Video modification and transmission

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for video transmission. According to one example, computer-readable storage media storing computer-readable instructions, which when executed by a computer having at least one processor, cause the computer to: change, during or after execution of a computer-implemented game, at least one current parameter of an avatar of a first distributor on the basis of second data or display in a second video, during or after execution of the computer-implemented game, an avatar of the first distributor and an avatar of at least any user of one or more users on the basis of the second data, wherein first data is data regarding at least any of the following: one or more users who jointly distributed a computer-implemented game with the first distributor, and one or more users who jointly distributed with the first distributor using an avatar of the first distributor and his/her own avatar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2020-108092, filed on Jun. 23, 2020; and Japanese Patent Application No.2020-122731, filed on Jul. 17, 2020, all entitled “Computer Program,Method, and Server Device.” These applications are incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety as if set forth fully herein.

FIELD

The technology disclosed in the present application relates to acomputer program, a method, and a server device that are used fordistributing a video related to a game from a terminal device of adistributor to a terminal device of each viewer.

BACKGROUND

As one example of a service used for distributing a video related to acomputer game from the terminal device of a distributor to the terminaldevice of each viewer, a service called mirrativ provided on a websiteidentified by the following URL is known.

-   -   https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/mirrativ-        /id1028944599

With this service, the distributor uses a terminal device to distribute,to the terminal devices of a plurality of viewers, a video including ananimation of an avatar generated on the basis of motion data related tothe motion of the distributor and a video related to acomputer-implemented game generated on the basis of operation datarelated to the operation of the distributor.

SUMMARY

Assuming a video in which avatars of a plurality of distributors (e.g.,a first distributor and a second distributor) perform together isdistributed or a video in which the plurality of distributors jointlyperform a game is distributed, in a case where the first distributor andthe second distributor jointly distribute, the number of viewers mayincrease compared with a case where the first distributor distributes.In this case, in a case where the second distributor who jointlyperforms distribution with the first distributor stops and leaves thedistribution, the number of viewers may decrease due to the influence ofthe fact that the second distributor left and spoiling the amusement ofthe game to be distributed later by the first distributor may bepossibly caused. Thus, even if the second distributor performingdistribution with the first distributor stopped and left thedistribution, it is desirable to have a configuration that does notspoil the amusement of the game to be distributed later by the firstdistributor as much as possible.

Accordingly, the technique disclosed in the present disclosure providesa computer program, a method, and a server device which reduce thepossibility of spoiling the amusement of the game. In the disclosedtechnology field, such tokens may also be referred to as elective tokensor “gifts.” Similarly, token data may be referred to as “gift data.”

Computer-readable storage media according to another aspect of thedisclosed technology can be “a computer-readable storage media storingcomputer-readable instructions, which when executed by a computer havingat least one processor, cause the computer to: distribute a first videoand a second video toward a viewer terminal of at least one viewer via acommunication line, the first video including either video generatedwith motion data regarding a motion of a first distributor or ananimation of an avatar of the first distributor generated on the basisof the motion data, the second video regarding a computer-implementedgame generated on the basis of operation data regarding an operation ofthe first distributor using a received web page; store first data in acomputer-readable medium regarding one or more users having performedcollaborative distribution with the first distributor prior to executionof the computer-implemented game; determine whether or not a firstcondition is satisfied after the first distributor and the one or moreusers perform the collaborative distribution; extract second dataregarding at least any user of the one or more users on the basis of thefirst data in a case where the first condition is satisfied; and change,during or after execution of the computer-implemented game, at least onecurrent parameter of an avatar of the first distributor on the basis ofthe second data or display in the second video, during or afterexecution of the computer-implemented game, an avatar of the firstdistributor and an avatar of at least any user of the one or more userson the basis of the second data, wherein the first data is dataregarding at least any of the following: one or more users who jointlydistributed a computer-implemented game with the first distributor, andone or more users who jointly distributed with the first distributorusing an avatar of the first distributor and his/her own avatar.”

A method according to one aspect of the disclosed technology can be “acomputer-implemented method for automatically generating customizedvideo in an interactive network application, the method comprising: withat least one processor: distributing a first video and a second videotoward a viewer terminal of at least one viewer via a communicationline, the first video including either video generated with motion dataregarding a motion of a first distributor or an animation of an avatarof the first distributor generated on the basis of the motion data, thesecond video regarding a computer-implemented game generated on thebasis of operation data regarding an operation of the first distributorusing a received web page; storing first data regarding one or moreusers having performed collaborative distribution with the firstdistributor prior to execution of the computer-implemented game;determining whether or not a first condition is satisfied after thefirst distributor and the one or more users perform the collaborativedistribution; extracting second data regarding at least any user of theone or more users on the basis of the first data in a case where thefirst condition is satisfied; and changing, during or after execution ofthe computer-implemented game, at least one current parameter of anavatar of the first distributor on the basis of the second data ordisplaying in the second video, during or after execution of thecomputer-implemented game, an avatar of the first distributor and anavatar of at least any user of the one or more users on the basis of thesecond data, wherein the first data is data regarding at least any ofthe following: one or more users who jointly distributed acomputer-implemented game with the first distributor, and one or moreusers who jointly distributed with the first distributor using an avatarof the first distributor and his/her own avatar.”

A terminal device according to one aspect of the disclosed technologycan be “a terminal device, comprising: at least one processor coupled toa communication line, wherein the at least one processor is configuredto: receive a first video and a second video from a distributor terminalof a first distributor via a communication line, the first videoincluding either motion data regarding a motion of the firstdistributor, the motion data being produced with a camera, or ananimation of an avatar of the first distributor generated on the basisof the motion data, the second video regarding a computer-implementedgame generated on the basis of operation data regarding an operation ofthe first distributor using a received web page, wherein first dataregarding one or more users having performed collaborative distributionwith the first distributor prior to execution of thecomputer-implemented game is stored, wherein it is determined whether ornot a first condition is satisfied after the first distributor and theone or more users perform the collaborative distribution, wherein seconddata regarding at least any user of the one or more users on the basisof the first data is extracted in a case where the first condition issatisfied, wherein at least one current parameter of an avatar of thefirst distributor is changed, during or after execution of thecomputer-implemented game, on the basis of the second data or an avatarof the first distributor and an avatar of at least any user of the oneor more users are displayed in the second video, during or afterexecution of the computer-implemented game, on the basis of the seconddata, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:display the second video including an avatar of the first distributorand an avatar of the at least any user, wherein the first data is dataregarding at least any of the following: one or more users who jointlydistributed a computer-implemented game with the first distributor, andone or more users who jointly distributed with the first distributorusing an avatar of the first distributor and his/her own avatar”

A system according to one aspect of the disclosed technology can be “asystem, comprising: the terminal device; and a server device coupled tothe distributor terminal via the communication line, wherein the serveris configured to transmit the second video to the terminal device.”

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. All trademarks used herein remain the property of theirrespective owners. This Summary is not intended to identify key featuresor essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intendedto be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Theforegoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosedsubject matter will become more apparent from the following DetailedDescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of avideo distribution system 1 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a hardwareconfiguration of a terminal 10 (server device 20) shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a functionof the terminal 10 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a functionof the server device 20 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of thefunction of the server device 20 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing an example of the motion performed in thevideo distribution system 1 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6B is a flowchart showing an example of the motion performed in thevideo distribution system 1 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7A is a flowchart showing an example of a motion performed in thevideo distribution system 1 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7B is a flowchart showing an example of the motion performed in thevideo distribution system 1 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a computing environment 1400.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is set forth in the context of representativeembodiments that are not intended to be limiting in any way. As used inthis application the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include theplural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Additionally, the term “includes” means “comprises.” Further, the term“coupled” encompasses mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, as wellas other practical ways of coupling or linking items together, and doesnot exclude the presence of intermediate elements between the coupleditems. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “and/or” means any one itemor combination of items in the phrase.

The systems, methods, and apparatus described herein should not beconstrued as being limiting in any way. Instead, this disclosure isdirected toward all novel features and aspects of the various disclosedembodiments, alone and in various combinations and subcombinations withone another. The disclosed systems, methods, and apparatus are notlimited to any specific aspect or feature or combinations thereof, nordo the disclosed things and methods require that any one or morespecific advantages be present or problems be solved. Furthermore,features or aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be used in variouscombinations and subcombinations with one another.

Although the operations of some of the disclosed methods are describedin a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it shouldbe understood that this manner of description encompasses rearrangement,unless a particular ordering is required by specific language set forthbelow. For example, operations described sequentially may in some casesbe rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, for the sake ofsimplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways in whichthe disclosed things and methods can be used in conjunction with otherthings and methods. Additionally, the description sometimes uses termslike “produce,” “generate,” “display,” “receive,” “evaluate,” and“distribute” to describe the disclosed methods. These terms arehigh-level descriptions of the actual operations that are performed. Theactual operations that correspond to these terms will vary depending onthe particular implementation and are readily discernible by one ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure.

Theories of operation, scientific principles, or other theoreticaldescriptions presented herein in reference to the apparatus or methodsof this disclosure have been provided for the purposes of betterunderstanding and are not intended to be limiting in scope. Theapparatus and methods in the appended claims are not limited to thoseapparatus and methods that function in the manner described by suchtheories of operation.

Any of the disclosed methods can be implemented usingcomputer-executable instructions stored on one or more computer-readablemedia (e.g., non-transitory computer-readable storage media, such as oneor more optical media discs, volatile memory components (such as DRAM orSRAM), or nonvolatile memory components (such as hard drives and solidstate drives (SSDs))) and executed on a computer (e.g., any commerciallyavailable computer, including smart phones or other mobile devices thatinclude computing hardware). Any of the computer-executable instructionsfor implementing the disclosed techniques, as well as any data createdand used during implementation of the disclosed embodiments, can bestored on one or more computer-readable media (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media). The computer-executable instructionscan be part of, for example, a dedicated software application, or asoftware application that is accessed or downloaded via a web browser orother software application (such as a remote computing application).Such software can be executed, for example, on a single local computer(e.g., as an agent executing on any suitable commercially availablecomputer) or in a network environment (e.g., via the Internet, awide-area network, a local-area network, a client-server network (suchas a cloud computing network), or other such network) using one or morenetwork computers.

For clarity, only certain selected aspects of the software-basedimplementations are described. Other details that are well known in theart are omitted. For example, it should be understood that the disclosedtechnology is not limited to any specific computer language or program.For instance, the disclosed technology can be implemented by softwarewritten in C, C++, Java, or any other suitable programming language.Likewise, the disclosed technology is not limited to any particularcomputer or type of hardware. Certain details of suitable computers andhardware are well-known and need not be set forth in detail in thisdisclosure.

Furthermore, any of the software-based embodiments (comprising, forexample, computer-executable instructions for causing a computer toperform any of the disclosed methods) can be uploaded, downloaded, orremotely accessed through a suitable communication means. Such suitablecommunication means include, for example, the Internet, the World WideWeb, an intranet, software applications, cable (including fiber opticcable), magnetic communications, electromagnetic communications(including RF, microwave, and infrared communications), electroniccommunications, or other such communication means.

Various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. Incidentally,identical reference numerals are given to common components in thedrawings. It should be noted that a component represented in a certainfigure may be omitted in another figure for convenience of explanation.It should be further noted that the accompanying drawings are notnecessarily to scale.

1. Configuration of Video Distribution System

In short, the video distribution system of the present disclosureenables a user (hereinafter referred to as a “distributor”) performingdistribution to distribute, using his/her terminal, a first videoincluding either video generated with motion data regarding a motion ofthis distributor or an animation of an avatar (avatar object) generatedbased on motion data regarding the motion of this distributor and asecond video regarding a game (a computer-implemented game) generated onthe basis of operation data regarding the operation of this distributorto a terminal of a user (hereinafter referred to as a “viewer”) viewingthe video via a communication line. A server at the distributor, or thedistributor terminal device itself, can process the data to rendermodified video data that is encoded by a video encoder and sent to theviewer terminal device. The video encoder comprises a processor (e.g, acentral processing unit or a graphics processing unit) configured togenerate video files or streams according to one or more video codingformats. Example of suitable video coding formats include but are notlimited to: H.264, H.265, VC-1, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4. A firstexample will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7B.

For example, the operation data can include one or more of thefollowing: data indicative of how the distributor has swiped a touch paddisplay, data indicative of which object the distributer has tapped orclicked, or data indicative of how the distributor has dragged a touchpad display, or other such operation data.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of avideo distribution system according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the video distribution system 1 can include a plurality of terminals10 connected to a communication line (communication network) notillustrated, and one or a plurality of server devices 20 connected tothe communication line. Each terminal 10 can be connected to one or theplurality of server devices 20 via the communication line.

As the plurality of terminals 10, FIG. 1 shows, for example, a firstdistributor terminal 11A, a second distributor terminal 11B, a viewerterminal 12A, a viewer terminal 12B, and a viewer terminal 12C, but oneor more terminals 10 other than them can be used similarly. In thefollowing description, the first distributor terminal 11A and the seconddistributor terminal 11B shall sometimes be collectively referred to asa distributor terminal 11, and the viewer terminals 12A to 12C shallsometimes be collectively referred to as a viewer terminal 12. As one orthe plurality of server devices 20, FIG. 1 shows, for example, adistribution server system 20A and a web server system 20B, but one ormore server devices 20 other than them can be used similarly. Thecommunication line (not shown) can include a mobile telephone network, awireless network (e.g., RF connections via Bluetooth, WiFi (such as IEEE802.11a/b/n), WiMax, cellular, satellite, laser, infrared), a fixedtelephone network, the Internet, an intranet, a local area network(LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), and/or an Ethernet network, withoutbeing limited thereto. In a virtual host environment, the communicationline(s) can be a virtualized network connection provided by the virtualhost.

In an embodiment, the video distribution system 1 can include one ormore studio units 30 connected to the communications network. Eachstudio unit 30 can be connected to one or the plurality of serverdevices 20 or the plurality of terminals 10 via the communication line.As one or more studio units 30, FIG. 1 shows, for example, studio units30A and 30B, but one or more studio units 30 other than them can be usedsimilarly. Each studio unit 30 can have a similar function to that ofthe terminal 10 or the server device 20 described later.

Hereinafter, in order to simplify the description, attention will bepaid to a case where one or the plurality of server devices 20transmit/receive a video or the like to/from each terminal 10. In placeof this or in addition to this, as will be described later, it is alsopossible for one or the plurality of server devices 20 totransmit/receive a video or the like to/from each studio unit 30.Furthermore, in place of this or in addition to this, as will bedescribed later, it is also possible for the studio unit 30 totransmit/receive a video or the like to/from each terminal 10.

1-1. Terminal 10

The plurality of terminals 10 can include, for example, the plurality ofdistributor terminals 11 (e.g., first distributor terminal 11A andsecond distributor terminal 11B) and one or more viewer terminals 12(e.g., viewer terminals 12A to 12C). The distributor corresponding tothe first distributor terminal 11A is referred to as a firstdistributor, and the distributor corresponding to the second distributorterminal 11B is referred to as a second distributor. In the followingdescription, when the first distributor terminal 11A among the pluralityof distributor terminals 11 independently distributes a game, the seconddistributor terminal 11B does not have to function as a terminal thatdistributes the game, and may be configured to function similarly to theviewer terminal 12, for example.

By having a common configuration, each terminal 10 can be any of aterminal (distributor terminal 11) for distributing a video and aterminal (viewer terminal 12) for viewing a video.

When operating as a terminal (distributor terminal) for distributing avideo, by executing an installed video distribution application (may bemiddleware or a combination of an application and middleware. The sameshall apply hereinafter), each terminal 10 can acquire motion dataregarding the motion of the distributor, and can transmit, to the serverdevice 20 (distribution server device 20A1) via the communication line,a first video including an animation of a virtual character(avatar/avatar object) changed according to the acquired data. Suchfirst video is distributed to the terminal (viewer terminal) 12 forreceiving the video via the communication line by the server device 20(distribution server device 20A1). Such viewer terminal 12 can receive avideo by executing an installed video viewing application (may bemiddleware or a combination of an application and middleware. The sameshall apply hereinafter).

When operating as a distributor terminal, by executing a browserfunction incorporated in an installed video distribution applicationand/or by executing an installed web browser application, each terminal10 can receive a web page (for example, an HTML document, including insome examples, HTML documents encoding executable code such asJavaScript or PHP code) from the server device 20 (web server system20B) and execute a game program included in this web page. By executingthis game program, each terminal 10 can generate a second video in whichat least one game object is operated on the basis of operation dataregarding the operation of the distributor. In independent distributionand/or collaborative distribution (to be described later), the user canstart the browser by using his/her own terminal 10, receive gamerendering data from the server device 20, and view the game via a gamescreen (Web View).

When operating as a distributor terminal, by executing the videodistribution application, each terminal 10 can transmit the thusgenerated second video to the server device 20 (distribution serversystem 20A) via the communication line. Such second video is alsodistributed to the terminal (viewer terminal) 10 for receiving the videothat executes the installed video viewing application via thecommunication line by the server device 20 (distribution server system20A).

Furthermore, when operating as a distributor terminal, by executing thevideo distribution application, each terminal 10 can receive, via theserver device 20 (distribution server system 20A) from the viewerterminal 12 viewing the second video (distributed by the distributorterminal 11), token data (gift data or gift information) indicating thata token (gift) is given to the distributor, and/or comment information(comment data) indicating that a comment is transmitted to thedistributor.

On the other hand, when operating as a terminal (viewer terminal) forviewing a video, by executing the installed video viewing application,each terminal 10 can receive, via the server device 20 (distributionserver system 20A), the first video and/or the second video distributedby the distributor terminal 11.

When operating as a viewer terminal, by executing the video viewingapplication, each terminal 10 can transmit, to the first distributorterminal 11A via the server device 20 (distribution server system 20A),token data (gift data or gift information) indicating that a token(gift) is given to a distributor, and/or comment information indicatingthat a comment is transmitted to the distributor.

The above-mentioned video distribution application and the video viewingapplication can be installed and executed in each terminal 10 as oneintegrated application or as separate applications.

Each terminal 10 is any terminal capable of executing such motion, andcan include a smartphone, a tablet, a mobile phone (feature phone),and/or a personal computer, without limiting to them. Each terminal 10is configured to be capable of performing, for example, collaborativedistribution (joint or collaborative distribution).

In the following description, the collaborative distribution means, forexample, a distribution performed jointly by a plurality of distributorsusing their own terminals. The collaborative distribution can include,for example, video distribution using the avatar of the firstdistributor and the avatar of another distributor, and game distributionperformed by the first distributor and another distributor. The gamedistributed by the game distribution is, for example, a game (live game)distributed live. In the game distributed by the collaborativedistribution, by inputting operation information (operation data) and/orvoice to the terminal 10 owned by each user, the user distributingand/or viewing the game can transmit the input information (input data)to the terminal 10 operated by the other user, thereby allowing theusers to communicate with each other.

In the case of performing collaborative distribution, for example, eachof a plurality of distributors can be treated separately. For example,one distributor of the plurality of distributors can be treated as, forexample, a host distributor, and the remaining of the plurality ofdistributors can be treated as, for example, a guest. Specifically, forexample, when two distributors (first distributor and seconddistributor) execute collaborative distribution, the first distributorcan be treated as a host distributor, and the second distributor can betreated as a guest. In this case, when the collaborative distribution isterminated, the first distributor continues the distribution, and thesecond distributor becomes impossible to continue the distribution. Itcan be configured so that the second distributor can view thedistribution as a viewer, for example, in a case where the seconddistributor becomes impossible to continue the distribution.

When the plurality of distributors are treated separately, the displaycontent displayed on the display screen of the terminal operated by thehost distributor, for example, may be configured to be different fromthe display content displayed on the display screen of the terminaloperated by the guest. When the plurality of distributors are treatedseparately, the number of commands operable by the host distributor, forexample, may be configured to be larger than the number of commandsoperable by the guest.

An example in which a plurality of distributors are treated separatelyin the case of performing collaborative distribution has been described.However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and maybe configured so that the plurality of distributors can be treatedwithout being separated from each other in the case of performingcollaborative distribution.

1-2. Server Device 20

As shown in FIG. 1 , the server device 20 includes, for example, thedistribution server system 20A and the web server system 20B.

The distribution server system 20A can distribute, to each terminal(each viewer terminal) 10, the first video and/or the second videotransmitted by each terminal (each distributor terminal) 10. Thedistribution server system 20A can transmit, to the distributor terminal11, token data (gift data or gift information) indicating that a token(gift) is given to a certain distributor and/or comment informationindicating that a comment is to be transmitted to a certain distributor,transmitted by each terminal (each viewer terminal) 10.

In order to execute such a motion, the distribution server system 20Acan, in an embodiment, include the distribution server device 20A1, adatabase (DB) server device 20A2, a game API server device 20A3, and acollaboration server device 20A4 that are connected to one another viathe communication line (including a wireless line and/or a wired linenot illustrated).

The distribution server device 20A1 can distribute, to each terminal 10,the first video and/or the second video transmitted by each distributorterminal 11. Furthermore, the distribution server device 20A1 can store,in the DB server device 20A2, the token data (gift data or giftinformation) and/or the comment information transmitted by each viewerterminal 12.

The DB server device 20A2 can store the token data (gift data or giftinformation) and/or the comment information received from thedistribution server device 20A1, read the token data (gift data or giftinformation) and/or the comment information inquired by the game APIserver device 20A3, and transmit them to the game API server device20A3.

When receiving an inquiry regarding token data (gift data or giftinformation) and/or comment information from each distributor terminal11, the game API server device 20A3 can read the token data (gift dataor gift information) and/or the comment information for the distributorterminal 11 from the DB server device 20A2, and transmit them to thedistributor terminal 11. In order to decide a user to performcollaborative distribution, the game API server device 20A3 acquiresinformation (data) of a candidate user other than the first distributor,and stores it in the DB server device 20A2. Here, the “candidate userother than the first distributor” is, for example, the seconddistributor or viewer.

The collaboration server device 20A4 communicates voice data and/ormotion data with each terminal 10 during collaborative distribution, forexample. In a case where the first distributor emits a voice to thefirst distributor terminal 11A during collaborative distribution, forexample, the collaboration server device 20A4 receives data regardingthe voice from the first distributor terminal 11A and transmits the dataregarding the voice to the second distributor terminal 11B and/or theviewer terminal 12. In a case where the second distributor emits a voiceto the second distributor terminal 11B during collaborativedistribution, for example, the collaboration server device 20A4 receivesdata regarding the voice from the second distributor terminal 11B andtransmits the data regarding the voice to the first distributor terminal11A and/or the viewer terminal 12.

The example shown in FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which for thepurpose of load dispersion and the like, the distribution server system20A has four server devices having the distribution server device 20A1,the DB server device 20A2, the game API server device 20A3, and thecollaboration server device 20A4. However, at least one server device ofthese four server devices may be integrated with at least one of theremaining server devices.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the web server system 20B includes, for example, agame server device 20B1 and a content server device 20B2.

The game server device 20B1 transmits, to each distributor terminal 11having accessed, a web page (document created according to HTML, forexample, HTML5) in which a game program is incorporated. This gameprogram can cause the received and decoded terminal 10 to executevarious motions related to video distribution including the motionsillustrated in (a) to (c) below.

(a) Motion of executing a game

(b) Motion of transmitting the game screen generated with the executionof the game to the distribution server system 20A (distribution serverdevice 20A1)

(c) Motion of acquiring, from the distribution server system 20A (gameAPI server device 20A3), token data (gift data or gift information)and/or comment information transmitted to the distributor

When distributing a game by collaborative distribution, for example, thegame server device 20B1 integrates operation information in the game,and performs calculation of a game logic. When distributing a game bycollaborative distribution, for example, the game server device 20B1transmits/receives game operation information and/or calculationinformation (calculation data) to/from the terminal 10 operated by auser distributing and/or viewing the game. The game server device 20B1stores data regarding the second distributor and/or the viewer of thegame distributed by the collaborative distribution during thecollaborative distribution. The data stored in the game server device20B1 can be used to decide the content of predetermined processing inS324 described later.

The content server device 20B2 is a device that stores, for example,game related data (e.g., live game content) and provides game renderingdata to the terminal 10 operated by the user distributing and/or viewingthe game.

1-3. Studio Unit 30

The studio unit 30 can be placed in a studio, a room, a hall, or thelike that is a place where a performer (distributor) distributes avideo. The studio unit 30 can perform the same function as that of theterminal 10 and/or the server device 20 as described above In FIG. 1 ,broken lines indicate that data can be communicated among the studiounit 30 and other devices, and solid lines indicate that data can becommunicated among the other devices.

2. Hardware Configuration of Each Device

Next, an example of the hardware configuration of each of the terminal10, the server device 20, and the studio unit 30 will be described.

2-1. Hardware Configuration of Terminal 10

A hardware configuration example of each terminal 10 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematicallyshowing an example of the hardware configuration of the terminal 10(server device 20) shown in FIG. 1 (in FIG. 2 , reference numerals inparentheses are described in relation to the server device 20, as willbe described later).

As shown in FIG. 2 , each terminal 10 can mainly include a centralprocessing unit 14, a main storage device 15, an input/output interfacedevice 16, an input device 17, an auxiliary storage device 18, and anoutput device 19. These devices are connected to one another by a databus and/or a control bus.

The central processing unit 14, which is referred to as a “CPU”,performs calculation on an instruction and data stored in the mainstorage device 15, and stores the result of the arithmetic operation inthe main storage device 15. Furthermore, the central processing unit 14can control, via the input/output interface device 16, the input device17, the auxiliary storage device 18, the output device 19, and the like.The terminal 10 can include one or more central processing units 14.

The main storage device 15, which is referred to as a “memory”, storesan instruction and data received via the input/output interface device16 from the input device 17, the auxiliary storage device 18, and acommunication line 2 (server device 20 or the like), as well as acalculation result of the central processing unit 14. The main storagedevice 15 can include computer-readable media such as volatile memory(e.g., registers, cache, random access memory (RAM)), non-volatilememory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), EEPROM, flash memory) and storage(e.g., a hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), magnetic tape,optical media), without being limited thereto. As should be readilyunderstood, the term computer-readable storage media includes the mediafor data storage such as memory and storage, and not transmission mediasuch as modulated data signals or transitory signals.

The auxiliary storage device 18 is a storage device having a capacitylarger than that of the main storage device 15. The auxiliary storagedevice 18 can store an instruction and data (computer program)constituting the above-mentioned specific application (videodistribution application, video viewing application, and the like) and aweb browser application. Furthermore, when controlled by the centralprocessing unit 14, the auxiliary storage device 18 can transmit theseinstructions and data (computer program) to the main storage device 15via the input/output interface device 16. The auxiliary storage device18 can include a magnetic disk device and/or an optical disk device,without limiting to them.

The input device 17 is a device that fetches data from the outside, andincludes a touch screen, a button, a keyboard, a mouse, and/or a sensor,without limiting to them. The sensor can include a sensor including oneor more cameras or the like and/or one or more microphones or the like,without limiting to them, as described below.

The output device 19 can include a display device, a touch screen,and/or a printer device, without limiting to them.

With such hardware configuration, by sequentially loading, into the mainstorage device 15, instructions and data (computer program) constitutinga specific application stored in the auxiliary storage device 18 andcalculating the loaded instructions and data, the central processingunit 14 can control the output device 19 via the input/output interfacedevice 16 or transmit/receive various information (data) to/from otherunits (e.g., server device 20, other terminal 10, and/or studio unit 30)via the input/output interface device 16 and the communication line 2.

Thus, by executing the installed specific application, the terminal 10can execute at least one motion of the following motions (a) to (d)below, for example.

(a) Motion used to distribute the first video and/or the second video

(b) Motion used to receive token data (gift data or gift information)and/or comment information transmitted to the own terminal 10 by anotherterminal 10

(c) Motion used to receive the first video and/or the second videodistributed by the other terminal 10

(d) Motion used to transmit token data (gift data or gift information)and/or comment information to the other terminal 10

The terminal 10 may include one or more microprocessors and/or graphicsprocessing units (GPU) in place of the central processing unit 14 ortogether with the central processing unit 14.

2-2. Hardware Configuration of Server Device 20

A hardware configuration example of each server device 20 will bedescribed similarly with reference to FIG. 2 . The hardwareconfiguration of each server device 20 (each of distribution serverdevice 20A1, DB server device 20A2, game API server device 20A3, gameserver device 20B1, and content server device 20B2) can be, for example,one identical to the hardware configuration of each terminal 10described above. Therefore, reference numerals for components includedin each server device 20 are shown in parentheses in FIG. 2 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , each server device 20 can mainly include a centralprocessing unit 24, a main storage device 25, an input/output interfacedevice 26, an input device 27, an auxiliary storage device 28, and anoutput device 29. These devices are connected to one another by a databus and/or a control bus.

The central processing unit 24, the main storage device 25, theinput/output interface device 26, the input device 27, the auxiliarystorage device 28, and the output device 29 can be substantially theidentical to the central processing unit 14, the main storage device 15,the input/output interface device 16, the input device 17, the auxiliarystorage device 18, and the output device 19, respectively, included ineach terminal 10 described above.

With such hardware configuration, by sequentially loading, into the mainstorage device 25, instructions and data (computer program) constitutinga specific application stored in the auxiliary storage device 28 andcalculating the loaded instructions and data, the central processingunit 24 can control the output device 29 via the input/output interfacedevice 26 or transmit/receive various information to/from other units(e.g., each terminal 10 and/or studio unit 30) via the input/outputinterface device 26 and the communication line 2.

Thus, the server device 20 can execute a motion used for distributing,to each viewer terminal 12, the first video and/or the second videotransmitted by each distributor terminal 11, a motion used fortransmitting, to the distributor terminal 11, token data (gift data orgift information) and/or comment information transmitted to a certaindistributor terminal 11 by each viewer terminal 12, and the like(including various motions described in detail below).

The server device 20 may include one or more microprocessors and/orgraphics processing units (GPU) in place of the central processing unit24 or together with the central processing unit 24.

2-3. Hardware Configuration of Studio Unit 30

The studio unit 30 can perform the same function as that of the terminal10 and/or the server device 20 as described above Therefore, the studiounit 30 can have the same hardware configuration as that of the terminal10 or the server device 20 described above.

3. Function of Each Device

Next, an example of the function of each of the terminal 10, the serverdevice 20, and the studio unit 30 will be described.

3-1. Function of Terminal 10

An example of the function of the terminal 10 will be described withreference to FIG. 3 . FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing anexample of the function of the terminal 10 shown in FIG. 1 .

As shown in FIG. 3 , the terminal 10 can mainly include a first videogeneration unit 100, a second video generation unit 110, a communicationunit 120, a display unit 130, a storage unit 140, a user interface unit150, and a token (gift) processing unit 160.

(1) First Video Generation Unit 100

The first video generation unit 100 can generate the first videoincluding an animation of an avatar object of a distributor on the basisof motion data regarding the motion of the distributor. In order toachieve this, the first video generation unit 100 can include, forexample, an acquisition unit 102 and a processing unit 104.

For example, the motion data can be acquired using a motion capturesystem. The motion data can be produced with a camera 102 c. As will bereadily understood to one of ordinary skill in the art having thebenefit of the present disclosure, examples of suitable motion capturesystems that can be used with disclosed apparatus and methods includeoptical motion capture systems, including such systems using passivemarkers, active markers, or markerless systems and non-optical systems,including inertial and magnetic systems. Motion data can be capture withan image capture devices (such as a CCD (charge-coupled device) or CMOS(complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image sensor) coupled to acomputer that transforms the motion data into video or other image data.

The acquisition unit 102 can include one or more first sensors 102 athat acquire data regarding the body of the distributor, one or moresecond sensors 102 b that acquire voice data regarding an utteranceand/or singing emitted by the distributor, a camera 102 c, and amicrophone 102 d. Here, the terminal 10 and each of the first sensor 102a, the second sensor 102 b, the camera 102 c, and the microphone 102 dare connected, for example, by wire or wirelessly.

The first sensor 102 a is connected with the camera 102 c, for example,by wire or wirelessly. The camera 102 c can include, for example, an RGBcamera that captures visible light and a near-infrared camera thatcaptures near-infrared camera. The camera 102 c can be, for example, oneincluded in True Depth camera of iphone X (registered trademark). Thesecond sensor 102 b is connected to the microphone 102 d, for example,by wire or wirelessly. The first sensor 102 a and the camera 102 c canbe provided as one configuration. The second sensor 102 b and themicrophone 102 d can be provided as one configuration.

First, as for the first sensor 102 a, the acquisition unit 102 capturesthe body of the distributor by using the first sensor 102 a placed closeto the body of the distributor. Thus, the acquisition unit 102 cangenerate data (e.g., MPEG file) in which an image acquired by the RGBcamera is recorded over a unit time in association with a time code(code indicating the time acquired). Furthermore, the acquisition unit102 can generate data (e.g. TSV file) in which a numerical value (e.g.,numerical value of floating point number) indicating a predeterminednumber (e.g., 51) of depths acquired by the near-infrared camera isrecorded over a unit time in association with the time code. The TSVfile is a file in a format where a plurality of data are recorded withdata separated by tabs.

As for the near-infrared camera, specifically, a dot projector radiates,to the body of the performer, an infrared laser that forms a dotpattern, and the near-infrared camera captures the infrared dotsprojected and reflected on the body of the performer and generates animage of the infrared dots thus captured. By comparing an image of a dotpattern radiated by a dot projector registered in advance with an imagecaptured by the near-infrared camera, the acquisition unit 102 cancalculate the depth (distance between each point or each feature pointand the near-infrared camera) of each point (each feature point) byusing the positional deviation at each point (each feature point) (e.g.,each of 51 points and feature points) in the both images. Theacquisition unit 102 can generate data in which a numerical valueindicating the thus calculated depth is recorded over a unit time inassociation with the time code as described above.

Next, as for the second sensor 102 b, the acquisition unit 102 acquiresvoice related to an utterance and/or singing emitted by the distributorusing the second sensor 102 b placed close to the body of thedistributor. Thus, the acquisition unit 102 can generate data (e.g.,MPEG file) recorded over a unit time in association with a time code. Inan embodiment, the acquisition unit 102 can acquire data regarding thebody of the distributor using the first sensor 102 a, and at the sametime, acquire voice data regarding an utterance and/or singing emittedby the distributor using the second sensor 102 b. In this case, theacquisition unit 102 can generate data (e.g., MPEG file) in which theimage acquired by the RGB camera and the voice data regarding theutterance and/or singing emitted by the distributor using the secondsensor 102 b are recorded over a unit time in association with theidentical time code.

The acquisition unit 102 can output, to the processing unit 104, thedata (MPEG file, TSV file, or the like) related to the body of thedistributor thus generated and/or the voice data (MPEG file or the like)related to the utterance and/or singing emitted by the distributor.

The case where the first sensor 102 a includes an RGB camera and aninfrared camera has been described here. However, the first sensor 102 acan include, for example, any of the following (A) to (C).

(A) Camera that detects infrared light radiated by an infrared laser andreflected on the face of the performer

(B) Plurality of RGB cameras that capture visible light

(C) Single camera that captures visible light

In the case of (A) above, the acquisition unit 102 can calculate thedepth for each feature point in the body of the distributor by the samemethod as described above. In the case of (B) above, the acquisitionunit 102 can calculate the depth of each feature point of the body ofthe distributor using a plurality of images captured by a plurality ofRGB cameras. In the case of (c) above, the acquisition unit 102 cancalculate, by using deep learning or the like, the depth of each featurepoint in the body of the distributor from an image captured by a singlecamera. Moreover, in the case of (c) above, the acquisition unit 102 cancalculate the depth of each feature point of the body of the performerby analysis processing (image processing and the like) for the imagecaptured by the single camera.

The processing unit 104 can generate a video including an animation of avirtual character (avatar object of the distributor) on the basis of thedata regarding the body of the distributor from the acquisition unit102. As for the video itself of the virtual character, the processingunit 104 can generate the video of the virtual character by causing arendering unit not illustrated to execute rendering using variousinformation (e.g., geometry information (geometry data), boneinformation (bone data), texture information (texture data), shaderinformation (shader data), blend shape information (blend shape data),and so on) stored in a character data storage unit not illustrated.

Furthermore, by using various known techniques, the processing unit 104can generate a video (e.g., a video in which the facial expression ofthe avatar object changes in synchronization with the movement of themouth and both eyes of the performer, e.g., a video in which the facialexpression of the avatar object changes in response to lip-sync and gazetracking with respect to the face of the performer) in which the facialexpression of the avatar object or the like is changed by using the data(data regarding the depth of each feature point in the body of theperformer) related to the body of the distributor from the acquisitionunit 102.

Any other known technique can be used for generating the first videoincluding an animation of the avatar object of the distributor on thebasis of the motion data regarding the motion of the distributor.

(2) Second Video Generation Unit 110

The second video generation unit 110 can generate a second videoregarding a game on the basis of the operation data regarding theoperation of the distributor by using a web page received from the webserver system 20B.

Specifically, the second video generation unit 110 executes a gameprogram incorporated in the web page received from the web server system20B. Thus, the second video generation unit 110 can render a secondvideo (game video) related to a game in which at least one game objectoperates, on the basis of the operation data indicating the operation ofthe distributor input by the user interface unit 150.

Furthermore, the second video generation unit 110 can control at leastone game object that should be displayed on the second video, on thebasis of the token data (gift data or gift information) generated by theviewer terminal of each viewer viewing the second video and transmittedto the user (distributor) of the terminal 10. The token data (gift dataor gift information) is information indicating that a token (gift) isgiven to the distributor.

(3) Communication Unit 120

The communication unit 120 can communicate various information requiredfor distribution and/or viewing of a video between the distributionserver system 20A and the web server system 20B. For example, when theterminal 10 operates as the distributor terminal 11, the communicationunit 120 can access the web server system 20B and receive a web page(HTML document) or the like including a game program required forexecution of a game or the like. When the terminal 10 operates as adistributor terminal, the communication unit 120 can transmit the firstvideo and/or the second video to the distribution server system 20A, andreceive, from the distribution server system 20A, the token data (giftdata or gift information) and/or comment information transmitted to thedistributor.

Furthermore, when the terminal 10 operates as a viewer terminal, thecommunication unit 120 can receive, from the distribution server system20A, the first video and/or the second video transmitted by thedistributor terminal 11, and transmit, to the distribution server system20A, the token data (gift data or gift information) and/or commentinformation to the distributor. The communication unit 120 may comprisetransceiver circuitry that is formed from one or more integratedcircuits. The communication unit 120 may be adapted to communicate usingany suitable technology, including a mobile telephone network, awireless network (e.g., RF connections via Bluetooth, WiFi (such as IEEE802.11a/b/n), WiMax, cellular, satellite, laser, infrared), a fixedtelephone network, the Internet, an intranet, a local area network(LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), and/or an Ethernet network, withoutbeing limited thereto.

(4) Display Unit 130

The display unit 130 can display various information required fordistribution and/or viewing of the video. For example, the display unit130 can display the first video and/or the second video to bedistributed and/or the first video and/or the second video having beenreceived. The display unit 130 may include a display device, such as aliquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED) display,organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, or the like.

(5) Storage Unit 140

The storage unit 140 can store various information required fordistribution and/or viewing of the video using computer-readable memoryor storage devices.

(6) User Interface Unit 150

The user interface unit 150 can input, via a user operation, variousinformation required for distribution and/or viewing of the video. Forexample, the user interface unit 150 can input, from the distributor,operation data indicating the content of the operation of thedistributor in executing the game, and output the operation data to thesecond video generation unit 110. The user interface unit 150 mayinclude a touch input device, such as a keyboard, keypad, mouse, touchscreen display, pen, or trackball, a voice input device, a camera, animage sensor, a scanning device, or another device, that provides userinput.

(7) Token (Gift) Processing Unit 160

The token (gift) processing unit 160 can process token data (gift dataor gift information) transmitted/received regarding the distributionand/or viewing of the video. For example, when the terminal 10 operatesas the distributor terminal 11, the token (gift) processing unit 160 canprocess the token data (gift data or gift information) transmitted tothe distributor. When the terminal 10 operates as the viewer terminal12, the token (gift) processing unit 160 can process the token data(gift data or gift information) that should be transmitted by theviewer. The token processing unit 160 can be implemented with aprocessor coupled to a memory storing computer-readable instructionsexecuted by the processor to process token data.

3-2. Function of Server Device 20

An example of the function of the server device 20 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 4 . FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematicallyshowing an example of the function of the server device 20 shown in FIG.1 . As shown in FIG. 4 , the server device 20 includes, for example, acommunication unit 200, a storage unit 210, a token (gift) processingunit 220, and a determination unit 230.

(1) Communication Unit 200

The communication unit 200 can communicate various information requiredfor distribution and/or viewing of a video between the distributorterminal 11 and/or the viewer terminal 12. For example, when operatingas the distribution server system 20A, the server device 20 can receive,from each distributor terminal 11, the first video and/or the secondvideo, and distribute them to each viewer terminal 12. When operating asthe web server system 20B, the server device 20 can transmit, to eachdistributor terminal 11 having accessed, a web page in which a gameprogram is incorporated. The communication unit 200 may comprisetransceiver circuitry that is formed from one or more integratedcircuits. The communication unit 200 may be adapted to communicate usingany suitable technology, including a mobile telephone network, awireless network (e.g., RF connections via Bluetooth, WiFi (such as IEEE802.11a/b/n), WiMax, cellular, satellite, laser, infrared), a fixedtelephone network, the Internet, an intranet, a local area network(LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), and/or an Ethernet network, withoutbeing limited thereto.

(2) Storage Unit 210

The storage unit 210 can store various information required fordistribution and/or viewing of the video. The storage unit 210 can storesuch data in computer-readable memory or storage devices. The storageunit 210 stores, for example, data regarding the distribution history ofthe collaborative distribution performed by the first distributortogether with another distributor. The data stored in the storage unit210 is updated, for example, every time the terminal 10 executesdistribution and/or views the distribution. Of the data stored in thestorage unit 210, data regarding at least one user performedcollaborative distribution together with the first distributor issometimes referred to as first data. The first data is, for example,data regarding a user distributed in the past a game together with thefirst distributor and/or a user distributed a video using his/her ownavatar together with the avatar of the first distributor. The storageunit 210 stores, for example, fifth data. The fifth data includes, forexample, data indicating a parameter in a game that at least one userhas ever distributed or viewed in the past, and data indicating arelationship between at least one user and the first distributor. Thefifth data includes at least any of, for example, the number of times ofdistribution of a game distributed in the past by at least one user, thenumber of times of view of a game viewed in the past by at least oneuser, data indicating the level of the avatar of at least one user, dataindicating the ranking of at least one user, data indicating the numberof times of distribution of the game distributed by at least one usertogether with the first distributor in the game distributed in the pastby the first distributor, data indicating the number of times of view ofthe game distributed in the past by the first distributor viewed by atleast one user, data indicating the history in which at least one userhas belonged to an event in the game executed in the past by the firstdistributor, data indicating whether or not at least one user followsthe first distributor, data indicating the total number of messagestransmitted between at least one user and the first distributor, anddata indicating the amount of the tokens (gifts) and the content of thetokens (gifts) given to the first distributor by at least one user inthe game distributed in the past by the first distributor.

The data stored in the storage unit 210 includes information (data)regarding at least one of, for example, “collaboration information(collaboration data)”, “distribution time/viewing time”, “gameprogress”, “match history”, “number of followers”, “special skill”, and“token data (gift data or gift information)”.

The “collaboration information” includes information (data) indicating aparameter in the game distributed or viewed in the past by anotherdistributor distributed the game by collaborative distribution togetherwith the first distributor, for example. The “collaboration information”can include information (data) regarding video distribution using theavatar of the first distributor and the avatar of the other distributor,for example. The “distribution time/viewing time” refers to the timewhen a user operating each terminal 10 distributed or viewed the game inthe past. The storage unit 210 stores the accumulated time of the timein which each user distributed and/or viewed in the past each game, forexample.

The “game progress” indicates the progress of the game distributed inthe past by the distributor. The “match history” indicates the number ofwins, the number of losses, and the number of draws for the userparticipated in the game, for example, in a case where the game to beexecuted is a match game. The “match history” may be a ranking of theusers participated in the game, for example, in a case where the game tobe executed is a match game. The “match history” may be a scorecalculated by quantification performed by applying a predeterminedweight to a win, a loss, a draw, and ranking.

The “number of followers” is a number corresponding to the number offollows of one user followed by other users. The larger the number offollowers of the one user is, the higher the degree of interest frommany users is. The “special skill” refers to a skill (killer move) thatthe avatar of the distributor has. The special skill includes a killermove that can be used in the game for giving damage to the opponentside, for example, in a case where the game being executed is a matchgame. The killer move gives the opponent side a larger damage than thatcaused by a normal attack, for example. The killer move exhibits alarger effect than that by a normal attack, for example. The storageunit 210 stores, for example, the name of a special skill, usageconditions for enabling the use of the special skill, and the like.

The “token data (gift data or gift information)” is, for example, thenumber of tokens (gifts), the value of a token (gift), the type of atoken (gift), the level of a token (gift), and the like that arequantified in accordance with a predetermined table, and description ofthe total of the numerical values of tokens (gifts). For example, the“token data (gift data or gift information)” can include at least any ofthe time, frequency, and number of times in which a token (gift) wasgiven (sent) from the viewer terminal 12 to the distributor terminal 11.The number of tokens (gifts) is the number given to the firstdistributor by the viewer. Here, the “value of a token (gift)”corresponds to the price of the token (gift), for example, in a case ofa paid token (gift), and the “value of a token (gift)” corresponds tothe consumption point of the token (gift) in a case of a free token(gift). The “value of a token (gift)” may be decided on the basis of,for example, the usable time of the token (gift), the display time ofthe token (gift), the number of people who can use the token (gift) atthe same time, and/or the total number of tokens (gifts) available inthe game. A short usable time of the token (gift) means that the token(gift) has a high value. A long usable time of the token (gift) meansthat the token (gift) has a low value. A long display time of the token(gift) means that the token (gift) has a high value. A short displaytime of the token (gift) means that the token (gift) has a low value. Asmall number of people who can use the token (gift) at the same timemeans that the token (gift) has a high value. A large number of peoplewho can use the token (gift) at the same time means that the token(gift) has a low value. A small total number of tokens (gifts) availablein the game means that the token (gift) is rare and has a high value. Alarge total number of tokens (gifts) available in the game means thatthe token (gift) is not rare and has a low value.

(3) Token (Gift) Processing Unit 220

The token (gift) processing unit 220 can process token data (gift dataor gift information) transmitted from each viewer to each distributor.When the server device 20 operates as the web server system 20B, thetoken (gift) processing unit 220 may be omitted. The token processingunit 220 can be implemented with a processor coupled to a memory storingcomputer-readable instructions executed by the processor to processtoken data.

(4) Determination Unit 230

The determination unit 230 determines various conditions, for example,determines whether or not the start condition of the collaborativedistribution has been satisfied (S314 described later), determineswhether or not a first condition has been satisfied (S318 describedlater), and determines whether or not a predetermined length of time haselapsed (S326 described later). It should be noted that the firstcondition is a condition for determining whether or not to terminate thecollaborative distribution. The determination unit 230 determinesvarious conditions, for example, determines whether or not there is arelief request (S414 described later), determines whether or not thereis a response to the relief request (S416 described later), anddetermines whether or not the collaborative distribution has been ended(S426 described later). The determination unit 230 can be implementedwith a processor coupled to a memory storing computer-readableinstructions executed by the processor to determine the variousconditions.

(5) Extraction Unit 240

As shown in FIG. 5 , an extraction unit 240 may be provided. Theextraction unit 240 extracts the second data to be used for deciding theprocessing content in S324 described later during or after execution ofcollaborative distribution. After the end of collaborative distribution,the extraction unit 240 extracts the second data regarding at least anyuser of one or more users related to the first distributor on the basisof the first data regarding at least one user performed in the pastcollaborative distribution together with the first distributor. Theextraction unit 240 can be implemented with a processor coupled to amemory storing computer-readable instructions executed by the processorto determine the various conditions.

3-3. Function of Studio Unit 30

The studio unit 30 can perform the same function as that of the terminal10 and/or the server device 20 as described above Therefore, the studiounit 30 can have the function of the terminal 10 described withreference to FIG. 3 and/or the function of the server device 20described with reference to FIG. 4 .

4. Overall Motion of Video Distribution System 1

Next, the overall motion performed in the video distribution system 1having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.6A to 7B.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are flowcharts showing an example of the motionperformed in the video distribution system 1 shown in FIG. 1 . In thepresent embodiment, for example, the description will be madehereinafter on the assumption that the number of users performingcollaborative distribution with the first distributor is singular(second distributor). However, the number of users performing thecollaborative distribution with the first distributor may be notsingular but plural.

First, referring to FIG. 6A, in S302, in accordance with the operationof the distributor (first distributor), the terminal 10 (firstdistributor terminal 11A) starts and executes the video distributionapplication.

In S304, the first distributor terminal 11A generates the first videoincluding the animation of the avatar object of the first distributor onthe basis of the motion data regarding the motion of the firstdistributor. Thus, the display unit 130 of the first distributorterminal 11A displays the first video including the animation of theavatar object of the first distributor. Then, the first distributorterminal 11A transmits the generated first video to the distributionserver device 20A1 of the distribution server system 20A. Thedistribution server device 20A1 distributes the first video receivedfrom the first distributor terminal 11A to each viewer terminal 12executing the video viewing application. Thus, the display unit 130 ofthe viewer terminal 12 of each viewer also displays the first video.

In S306, when the first distributor taps or the like an icon 406 (notillustrated) called “game” displayed on the display unit 130 of thefirst distributor terminal 11A, the first distributor terminal 11Aexecutes the browser function installed in the video distributionapplication. Thus, in S308, by accessing the web server system 20B in astate where the video distribution application is executed (e.g., thefirst video is distributed toward each viewer terminal 12), the firstdistributor terminal 11A can receive an HTML5 document in which a gameprogram is incorporated.

In S310, by executing the game program incorporated in the receivedHTML5 document, the first distributor terminal 11A can generate a video(second video) regarding the game.

In S312, the first distributor terminal 11A transmits the second video(game screen) generated in S310 to the distribution server device 20A1of the distribution server system 20A. The distribution server device20A1 distributes the second video received from the first distributorterminal 11A to each viewer terminal 12 executing the video viewingapplication. This allows the second video to be also displayed on thedisplay unit 130 of each viewer terminal 12. After the processing ofS312 is executed, for example, after a predetermined length of time haselapsed, the processing of S314 is executed.

In S314, the server device 20 determines whether or not the startcondition of collaborative distribution has been satisfied. In S314, ifthe server device 20 determines that the start condition ofcollaborative distribution has been satisfied (YES in S314), theprocessing proceeds to S316. On the other hand, in S314, if the serverdevice 20 determines that the start condition of collaborativedistribution has not been satisfied (NO in S314), the processing of S314is performed again.

The processing agent of S314 to S326 is, for example, the game APIserver device 20A3 or the game server device 20B1 from among the serverdevices 20, but the processing agent is not limited to this, and may be,for example, another device from among the server devices 20.

The start conditions of collaborative distribution are satisfied, forexample, when for the distribution distributed by the first distributorterminal 11A in a state where the collaborative distribution modedisplayed on the display unit 130 is enabled (ON), the other terminal 10transmits data regarding an application for collaborative distributionvia the server device 20 to the first distributor terminal 11A, and thefirst distributor operates the first distributor terminal 11A to approvethe application. By operating the first distributor terminal 11A, thefirst distributor can switch the collaborative distribution mode betweenenabled (ON) and disabled (OFF).

In S316, the server device 20 starts the collaborative distribution.When, for example, a predetermined length of time has elapsed after thestart of the collaborative distribution, the processing of S318 isperformed. In S316, by starting the collaborative distribution, thesecond video including the animation of the avatar object of the firstdistributor and the animation of the avatar object of a user (e.g.,second distributor) other than the first distributor is displayed on thedisplay unit 130 of the terminal 10 operated by the user distributingand/or viewing the game by the collaborative distribution.

In S316, after the server device 20 starts the collaborativedistribution, the user distributing and/or viewing the game by thecollaborative distribution can, by inputting the operation informationand/or voice to the terminal 10 owned by the user, change the displaycontent of the display screen of the terminal 10 and/or transmit thevoice to the user operating the other terminal 10. In S316, after theserver device 20 starts the collaborative distribution, the terminal 10of the user distributing and/or viewing the game by the collaborativedistribution can read data such as a live game content stored in thecontent server device 20B2.

In S316, after the server device 20 starts the collaborativedistribution, the operation information and/or voice input to the user'sown terminal 10 of the user distributing and/or viewing the game by thecollaborative distribution can be stored in the server device 20 (e.g.,game server device 20B1). The thus stored data can be used to decide thecontent of predetermined processing in S324 described later.

In S316, after the server device 20 starts the collaborativedistribution, the server device 20 may configure the display contents ofthe display unit 130 of the terminal 10 operated by the userdistributing and/or viewing the game by the collaborative distributionso as to be identical, or may configure the display contents of thedisplay unit 130 of the terminal 10 operated by the user distributingand/or viewing the game by the collaborative distribution so as to bedifferent. If the display contents of the display unit 130 of theplurality of distributor terminals 11 are configured so as to bedifferent from each other, the viewer viewing the game by thecollaborative distribution using the terminal 10 may cause the displaycontent of the display unit 130 regarding any distributor of theplurality of distributors to be displayed on the display unit 130 of theuser's own terminal 10.

An example in which the first distributor and the second distributorjointly distribute the game in S316 has been described, but the presentinvention is not limited to this, and it is only required that the firstdistributor and another distributor jointly distribute the game. Forexample, instead of the first distributor and the second distributorjointly distributing the game in S316, a video in which the avatar ofthe first distributor and the avatar of the second distributor performtogether may be distributed.

In S318, the server device 20 decides whether or not the first conditionhas been satisfied. In S318, if the server device 20 determines that thefirst condition has been satisfied (YES in S318), the collaborativedistribution is ended and S322 described in FIG. 6B is executed. On theother hand, in S318, if the server device 20 determines that the firstcondition has not been satisfied (NO in S318), the processing of S318 isrepeated.

The first condition may be a condition satisfied, for example, bytransmitting the third data that is the data requesting to end thecollaborative distribution from the terminal 10 operated by the userexecuting and/or viewing the collaborative distribution, may be acondition satisfied by the lapse of a predetermined length of time(first length of time) from the start of the collaborative distribution,or may be one corresponding to satisfying a condition in the gameexecuted by the collaborative distribution. Here, the above-mentioned“requesting to end the collaborative distribution” is, for example, arequest obtained from the first distributor or the second distributorwhen a collaborative distribution is performed using the avatar of thefirst distributor (host distributor) and the avatar of the seconddistributor (guest). The above-mentioned “conditions in the game” are,for example, conditions such as knocking down a character different fromthe character to be operated in the stage prepared in the game,acquiring a predetermined item in the stage, moving the character to beoperated in the stage to a predetermined position, or that the parameterof the character to be operated in the stage is equal to or greater thana predetermined value or less than the predetermined value. The knockingdown a character different from the character to be operated in thestage prepared in the game, acquiring a predetermined item in the stage,and moving the character to be operated in the stage to a predeterminedposition can correspond to clearing the stage. It can correspond to thedeath of the character to be operated that the parameter of thecharacter to be operated in the stage is equal to or greater than apredetermined value or less than the predetermined value.

When a determination of YES is made in S318 and the collaborativedistribution is ended, for example, the first distributor terminal 11Ais configured so that the first distributor can continue thedistribution, and the second distributor terminal 11B is configured sothat the second distributor does not perform the distribution. In thiscase, the second distributor terminal 11B may be configured so that thesecond distributor can continue to view the distribution contentregarding the distribution as a viewer.

In S322, on the basis of the first data, the server device 20 extractsthe second data regarding a user other than the first distributor. Thefirst data is data regarding at least one user having performedcollaborative distribution in the past with the first distributor, andis stored in the storage unit 210, for example. The second data includesat least any of, for example, data indicating a parameter in a gamedistributed or viewed in the past by a user other than the firstdistributor, and data indicating a relationship between the firstdistributor and a user other than the first distributor.

In S324, the server device 20 executes predetermined processing on thebasis of the second data extracted from the first data. Specifically, inS324, the server device 20 changes at least one current parameter of theavatar of the first distributor on the basis of the second data, ordisplays the avatar of the first distributor and the avatar of the userother than the first distributor on the second video on the basis of thesecond data. More specifically, for example, in a case where the currentparameter (a determined parameter) of the avatar of the firstdistributor is changed to a first parameter, the first parameter can bedisplayed in the second video, information indicating that the currentparameter (the determined parameter) has been changed to the firstparameter can be displayed in the second video, or an avatar having thefirst parameter can be displayed in the second video, thereby allowingat least one viewer to readily recognize the fact that the currentparameter (the determined parameter) of an avatar of the firstdistributor has been updated. It should be noted that the avatar havingthe first parameter corresponds to the avatar having the determinedparameter. Alternatively, for example, on the basis of the second dataregarding the second distributor, the server device 20 displays theavatar of the first distributor and the avatar of the second distributorin the second video instead of changing the parameter of the avatar ofthe first distributor to the parameter of the avatar of the seconddistributor or displaying only the avatar of the first distributor inthe second video.

According to the technology disclosed in the present application, theserver device 20 can determine the first parameter to be used withoutreceiving data requesting to change the determined parameter to thefirst parameter from the first distributor terminal 11A, therebyallowing to decrease a communication network load for the server device20.

Further, according to the technology disclosed in the presentapplication, in a case where a game being executed is a certain type ofa match game where a distributor matches his/her opponent and thedistributor uses his/her own avatar having the first parameter changedfrom the determined parameter, the game can advantageously progress forthe distributor. Thus, at least one viewer who views the game can expectthat the course of the game will be positively changed for thedistributor due to the update of the parameter, thereby allowing tocatch interest from the at least one viewer.

Further, according to the technology disclosed in the presentapplication, the device of the distributor is able to calculate acontrol parameter related to a selected game object used in the game onthe basis of viewer data so that the distributor is able to play thegame advantageously. Therefore, as the distributor is able to completethe game more quickly, the terminal device of the distributor is ableto: save the power consumption of the device; extend the battery life ofthe device; decrease CPU/memory loads; and/or decrease communicationnetwork loads. This is also true with the server device and the terminaldevices of the viewers.

Further, according to the technology disclosed in the presentapplication, an avatar corresponding to a user to act as a helper can bedisplayed as a game element in a game screen. This allows to aggregateinformation on a plurality of objects to be displayed and to display theplurality of objects in the game screen even when the size of the gamescreen is small.

In S324, in a case where the current parameter of the avatar of thefirst distributor is changed to a predetermined parameter (firstparameter) on the basis of the second data, this first parameter is aparameter more advantageous for the progress of the game than thecurrent parameter in the game. Specifically, in a case where the seconddata indicates a parameter regarding a specific user, and in a casewhere the parameter of the avatar of this specific user is morepreferable for the progress of the game than the parameter of the firstdistributor, the current parameter of the avatar of the firstdistributor is changed to the parameter of the avatar of this specificuser. Instead of changing the current parameter of the avatar of thefirst distributor to the parameter of the avatar of this specific user,a part of the parameter of the avatar of this specific user may be givento the avatar of the first distributor.

In S324, in the case where the avatar of the first distributor and theavatar of the user other than the first distributor are displayed in thesecond video on the basis of the second data, the user is the userhaving the largest number of times of distribution of the game with thefirst distributor, the user having the longest accumulated time in whichthe game is distributed with the first distributor, the user having thelargest number of times of view of the game distributed in the past bythe first distributor, the user having the longest accumulated time inwhich the game distributed in the past by the first distributor isviewed, or the user having the highest level in the game.

In S324, in the case where the avatar of the first distributor and theavatar of the user other than the first distributor are displayed in thesecond video on the basis of the second data, for example, the firstdistributor terminal 11A distributes the second video including theavatar of the first distributor and the avatar of the user other thanthe first distributor to each viewer terminal 12. This specificprocessing is the same as in S304.

Next, in S326, the server device 20 determines whether or not tocontinue the predetermined processing executed in S324. In S326, if theserver device 20 determines to continue the predetermined processingexecuted in S324 (YES in S326), the processing of S326 is repeated. InS326, if the server device 20 determines not to continue thepredetermined processing executed in S324 (NO in S326), the series ofprocessing shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is ended. In the case of NO in S326,instead of ending the series of processing shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, anyprocessing described in FIGS. 6A and 6B (e.g., processing of S314) maybe performed.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possibleto store the first data regarding at least one user having performedcollaborative distribution with the first distributor prior to theexecution of the game; after the first distributor and at least one userhave performed collaborative distribution, determine whether or not thefirst condition is satisfied; if determined that the first condition issatisfied, extract the second data regarding at least any of at leastone user on the basis of the first data; and change at least one currentparameter of the avatar of the first distributor on the basis of thesecond data during or after the execution of the game, or display theavatar of the first distributor and the avatar of at least any user ofat least one user in the second video on the basis of the second data.Therefore, even if the second distributor performing video distributiontogether with the first distributor has stopped and left the videodistribution, the possibility of spoiling the amusement of the game tobe distributed later by the first distributor becomes low. Inparticular, in a case where the viewers interest in the seconddistributor having performed collaborative distribution with the firstdistributor is higher than the viewer's interest in the firstdistributor, the effect of performing the processing of S324 isanticipated more.

(Various Aspects)

A computer program according to the first aspect can be “a computerprogram causing, by being executed by at least one processor, theprocessor to function so as to: distribute a first video and a secondvideo toward a viewer terminal of at least one viewer via acommunication line, the first video including either motion dataregarding a motion of a first distributor or an animation of an avatarof the first distributor generated on the basis of the motion data, thesecond video regarding a game generated on the basis of operation dataregarding an operation of the first distributor using a received webpage; store first data regarding at least one user having performedcollaborative distribution with the first distributor prior to executionof the game; determine whether or not a first condition is satisfiedafter the first distributor and the at least one user perform thecollaborative distribution; extract second data regarding at least anyuser of the one or more users on the basis of the first data in a casewhere the first condition is satisfied; and change, during or afterexecution of the game, at least one current parameter of an avatar ofthe first distributor on the basis of the second data or display in thesecond video, during or after execution of the game, an avatar of thefirst distributor and an avatar of at least any user of the one or moreusers on the basis of the second data.

In the computer program according to the second aspect, in which in thefirst aspect, “the first data is data regarding at least any of thefollowing: at least one user who jointly distributed a game with thefirst distributor, and at least one user who jointly distributed withthe first distributor using an avatar of the first distributor andhis/her own avatar”.

In the computer program according to the third aspect, in which in thefirst aspect or the second aspect, “the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that the second data includes at least any ofthe following: data indicating a parameter in a game distributed orviewed by the at least one user in the past, and data indicating arelationship between the at least one user and the first distributor.”

In the computer program according to the fourth aspect, in which in anyof the first to the third aspects, “the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that in a case where when displaying on thebasis of the second data, in the second video, avatars comprising anavatar of the first distributor and an avatar of at least any user ofthe one or more users, at least any user of the one or more users is oneof the following: a user having the largest number of times forperforming the collaborative distribution with the first distributor, auser having the longest accumulated time for performing thecollaborative distribution with the first distributor, a user having thelargest number of times for viewing distribution by the firstdistributor, a user having the longest accumulated time for viewingdistribution by the first distributor, or a user having the highestlevel in the game.

In the computer program according to the fifth aspect, in which in anyof the first to the fourth aspects, “the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that the first condition is a conditionindicating that third data has been transmitted from either adistributor terminal of the first distributor or a distributor terminalof a distributor other than the first distributor, or is a conditionindicating that first length of time has elapsed after the firstdistributor and the at least one user start the collaborativedistribution”.

In the computer program according to the sixth aspect, in which in thefifth aspect, “the computer program causes the processor to function sothat the third data includes data requesting that an avatar of at leastany user of the one or more users is displayed with an avatar of thefirst distributor in the second video.

In the computer program according to the seventh aspect, in which in anyof the first to the sixth aspects, “the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that in a case where at least one currentparameter of an avatar of the first distributor is changed on the basisof the second data or in a case where an avatar of the first distributorand an avatar of at least any user of the one or more users aredisplayed in the second video on the basis of the second data, aparameter regarding an avatar of the at least one user is changed”.

In the computer program according to the eighth aspect, in which in anyof the first to the seventh aspects, “the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that in a case where the current parameter ischanged to a first parameter on the basis of the second data, the firstparameter is a parameter more advantageous for the progress of the gamethan the current parameter in the game”.

A computer program according to the ninth aspect can be “a computerprogram causing, by being executed by at least one processor, theprocessor to function so as to: receive a first video and a second videotoward a viewer terminal of at least one viewer via a communicationline, the first video including either motion data regarding a motion ofa first distributor or an animation of an avatar of the firstdistributor generated on the basis of the motion data, the second videoregarding a game generated on the basis of operation data regarding anoperation of the first distributor using a received web page; determinewhether or not a first condition is satisfied after the firstdistributor and the at least one user perform the collaborativedistribution; receive a first video where at least one current parameterof an avatar of the first distributor is changed on the basis of seconddata extracted regarding at least any user of the one or more users onthe basis of first data regarding at least one user having performedcollaborative distribution with the first distributor prior to executionof the game in a case where the first condition is satisfied or receivea second video where an avatar of the first distributor and an avatar ofat least any user of the one or more users on the basis of the seconddata.

In the computer program according to the tenth aspect, in which in anyof the first to the ninth aspects, “the communication line includes theInternet”.

In the computer program according to the eleventh aspect, in which inany of the first to the tenth aspects, “the at least one processorincludes a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, and/or agraphics processing unit (GPU)”.

In the computer program according to the twelfth aspect, in which in anyof the first to the eleventh aspects, “the at least one processor ismounted on a smartphone, a tablet, a mobile phone, and/or a personalcomputer.”.

A method according to the thirteenth aspect can be “a method executed byat least one processor executing computer-readable instructions, themethod including steps of, by executing the instructions with theprocessor, distributing a first video and a second video toward a viewerterminal of at least one viewer via a communication line, the firstvideo including either motion data regarding a motion of a firstdistributor or an animation of an avatar of the first distributorgenerated on the basis of the motion data, the second video regarding agame generated on the basis of operation data regarding an operation ofthe first distributor using a received web page, storing first dataregarding at least one user having performed collaborative distributionwith the first distributor prior to execution of the game, determiningwhether or not a first condition is satisfied after the firstdistributor and the at least one user perform the collaborativedistribution, extracting second data regarding at least any user of theone or more users on the basis of the first data in a case where thefirst condition is satisfied, and changing, during or after execution ofthe game, at least one current parameter of an avatar of the firstdistributor on the basis of the second data or displaying in the secondvideo, during or after execution of the game, an avatar of the firstdistributor and an avatar of at least any user of the one or more userson the basis of the second data.

A method according to the fourteenth aspect can be “a method executed byat least one processor executing computer-readable instructions, themethod including steps of, by executing the instructions with theprocessor, receiving a first video and a second video toward a viewerterminal of at least one viewer via a communication line, the firstvideo including either motion data regarding a motion of a firstdistributor or an animation of an avatar of the first distributorgenerated on the basis of the motion data, the second video regarding agame generated on the basis of operation data regarding an operation ofthe first distributor using a received web page, determining whether ornot a first condition is satisfied after the first distributor and theat least one user perform the collaborative distribution, and receivinga first video where at least one current parameter of an avatar of thefirst distributor is changed on the basis of second data extractedregarding at least any user of the one or more users on the basis of thefirst data regarding at least one user having performed collaborativedistribution with the first distributor prior to execution of the gamein a case where the first condition is satisfied or receiving a secondvideo where at least one of an avatar of the first distributor and anavatar of at least any user of the one or more users is displayed on thebasis of the second data.

In the method according to the fifteenth aspect, in which in thethirteenth or the fourteenth aspect, “the communication line includesthe Internet”.

In the method according to the sixteenth aspect, in which in any of thethirteenth to the fifteenth aspects, “the at least one processorincludes a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, and/or agraphics processing unit (GPU)”.

A server device according to the seventeenth aspect can be “a serverdevice comprising at least one processor, wherein the processor isconfigured to: transmit a first video and a second video toward a viewerterminal of at least one viewer via a communication line, the firstvideo including either motion data regarding a motion of a firstdistributor or an animation of an avatar of the first distributorgenerated on the basis of the motion data, the second video regarding agame generated on the basis of operation data regarding an operation ofthe first distributor using a received web page; store first dataregarding at least one user having performed collaborative distributionwith the first distributor prior to execution of the game; determinewhether or not a first condition is satisfied after the firstdistributor and the at least one user perform the collaborativedistribution; extract second data regarding at least any user of the oneor more users on the basis of the first data in a case where the firstcondition is satisfied; and change, during or after execution of thegame, at least one current parameter of an avatar of the firstdistributor on the basis of the second data or display in the secondvideo, during or after execution of the game, an avatar of the firstdistributor and an avatar of at least any user of the one or more userson the basis of the second data.

A server device according to the eighteenth aspect can be “a serverdevice comprising at least one processor, wherein the processor isconfigured to: transmit a first video and a second video toward a viewerterminal of at least one viewer via a communication line, the firstvideo including either motion data regarding a motion of a firstdistributor or an animation of an avatar of the first distributorgenerated on the basis of the motion data, the second video regarding agame generated on the basis of operation data regarding an operation ofthe first distributor using a received web page, and wherein thecomputer program causes the processor to function so that a distributorterminal of the first distributor is configured to: store first dataregarding at least one user having performed collaborative distributionwith the first distributor prior to execution of the game; determinewhether or not a first condition is satisfied after the firstdistributor and the at least one user perform the collaborativedistribution; extract second data regarding at least any user of the oneor more users on the basis of the first data in a case where the firstcondition is satisfied; and change, during or after execution of thegame, at least one current parameter of an avatar of the firstdistributor on the basis of the second data or display in the secondvideo, during or after execution of the game, an avatar of the firstdistributor and an avatar of at least any user of the one or more userson the basis of the second data.

In the server device according to the nineteenth aspect, in which in theseventeenth aspect or the eighteenth aspect, “the communication lineincludes the Internet”.

In the server device according to the twentieth aspect, in which in anyof the seventeenth to the nineteenth aspects, “the at least oneprocessor includes a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor,and/or a graphics processing unit (GPU)”.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are flowcharts showing an example of the motionperformed in the video distribution system 1 shown in FIG. 1 . In thepresent embodiment, for example, the description will be madehereinafter on the assumption that the number of users performingcollaborative distribution with the first distributor is singular(second distributor). However, the number of users performing thecollaborative distribution with the first distributor may be notsingular but plural.

First, referring to FIG. 7A, in S402, in accordance with the operationof the distributor (first distributor), the terminal 10 (firstdistributor terminal 11A) starts and executes the video distributionapplication.

In S404, the first distributor terminal 11A generates the first videoincluding the animation of the avatar object of the first distributor onthe basis of the motion data regarding the motion of the firstdistributor. Thus, the display unit 130 of the first distributorterminal 11A displays the first video including the animation of theavatar object of the first distributor. Then, the first distributorterminal 11A transmits the generated first video to the distributionserver device 20A1 of the distribution server system 20A. Thedistribution server device 20A1 distributes the first video receivedfrom the first distributor terminal 11A to each viewer terminal 12executing the video viewing application. Thus, the display unit 130 ofthe viewer terminal 12 of each viewer also displays the first video.

In S406, when the first distributor taps or the like an icon 406 (notillustrated) called “game” displayed on the display unit 130 of thefirst distributor terminal 11A, the first distributor terminal 11Aexecutes the browser function installed in the video distributionapplication. Thus, in S408, by accessing the web server system 20B in astate where the video distribution application is executed (e.g., thefirst video is distributed toward each viewer terminal 12), the firstdistributor terminal 11A can receive an HTML5 document in which a gameprogram is incorporated.

In S410, by executing the game program incorporated in the receivedHTML5 document, the first distributor terminal 11A can generate a video(second video) regarding the game.

In S412, using the first distributor terminal 11A, the first distributorindependently distributes the game, and the processing in S414 isexecuted. In S412, the first distributor and the viewer operate theirown terminals 10 to start the browser, receive game rendering data fromthe server device 20 (e.g., web server system 20B), and view the gamevia the game screen (Web View). At this time, the server device 20transmits the game rendering data to the terminal 10. In the case ofdistributing a game, information (data) such as game operationinformation and calculation information are transmitted/received betweenthe server device 20 (e.g., web server system 20B) and the terminal 10.

In S414, the server device 20 determines whether or not to have receivedthe fourth data from the first distributor terminal 11A. If determinedto have received the fourth data from the first distributor terminal 11A(YES in S414), the server device 20 transmits data notifying the reliefrequest in S414 to the viewer terminal 12 viewing the distributiondistributed by the first distributor, and performs the processing inS416. On the other hand, if the server device 20 determines to have notreceived the fourth data from the first distributor terminal 11A (NO inS414), the processing of S414 is repeated.

The fourth data is, for example, data requesting the first distributorto invite a user to participate in the game. The fourth data includesdata requesting that at least one other avatar be included in the secondvideo together with the avatar of the first distributor. The fourth datais transmitted from the first distributor terminal 11A, for example,when the first distributor operates a character to play a predeterminedgame using the first distributor terminal 11A, and in a case where theparameter of the character shows an undesirable value in the game. Thefourth data is transmitted to, for example, an external socialnetworking service (SNS).

In S416, the server device 20 determines whether or not there has been aresponse to the relief request from the viewer terminal 12. If theserver device 20 determines that there has been a response to the reliefrequest from the viewer terminal 12 (YES in S416), the processing ofS418 is executed. On the other hand, if the server device 20 determinesthat there has been no response to the relief request from the viewerterminal 12 (NO in S416), the processing of S416 is repeated. Thedetermination as to whether or not there has been a response to therelief request from the viewer terminal 12 is performed by, for example,the server device 20 determining whether or not to have received sixthdata regarding the response to the relief request from the viewerterminal 12. The sixth data is data transmitted from the viewer terminal12 of at least one viewer.

The above description has described the example in which the serverdevice 20 determines in S416 whether or not there has been a response tothe relief request from the viewer terminal 12. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this. For example, when receiving the fourthdata from the first distributor terminal 11A (YES in S414), the serverdevice 20 may acquire the fifth data stored in the storage unit 210instead of performing the determination in S416.

In S418, the server device 20 decides one user as a relief user on thebasis of, for example, the fifth data or the sixth data. In S418, theserver device 20 may decide a plurality of users as relief users on thebasis of, for example, the fifth data or the sixth data. One or aplurality of users to be decided as relief users are decided from amongviewers viewing the distribution distributed by the first distributor,for example. At least any of the fifth data and the sixth data caninclude data in which the priority of at least one other avatar to beincluded in the second video together with the avatar of the firstdistributor is assigned to each of at least one user.

In S418, when deciding one user as a relief user on the basis of thefifth data, the server device 20 performs display control of including,in the second video together with the avatar of the first distributor,among the avatars of at least one user, the avatar of a user having thelargest number of times of distribution of the game distributed in thepast, the avatar of a user having the largest number of times of view ofthe game viewed in the past, the avatar of the highest level, the avatarof a user with the highest ranking, the avatar of a user having thelargest number of times of distribution of, together with the firstdistributor, the game distributed in the past by the first distributor,the avatar of a user having the largest number of times of view of thegame executed in the past by the first distributor, the avatar of a userhaving the largest number of belonging to events in the game executed inthe past by the first distributor, the avatar of a user having thelargest total number of messages transmitted to the first distributorand received from the first distributor, the avatar of a user havinggiven the largest number of tokens (gifts) to the first distributor, orthe avatar of a user decided to have the highest accumulation of thevalues of the tokens (gifts) given to the first distributor. Theaccumulation of the values of the tokens (gifts) given to the firstdistributor is decided on the basis of the total sum of the prices ofthe tokens (gifts) given to the first distributor or the total sum ofthe consumption points consumed in the game. In S418, when deciding oneuser as a relief user on the basis of the fifth data, the server device20 may decide the avatars of at least one user in descending order ofthe length of the viewing time of the collaborative distribution. Here,for example, it is assumed that the first viewer, the second viewer, andthe third viewer are viewing an identical distribution, and the firstviewer, the second viewer, and the third viewer are viewing thedistribution for the first length of time, the second length of time,and the third length of time, respectively. Here, it is assumed that thefirst length of time is longer than the second length of time, and thesecond length of time is longer than the third length of time. In thiscase, the first viewer, the second viewer, and the third viewer respondto the relief request in S416, whereby the first viewer, having thelongest viewing time in S418, is decided as the relief user. Then, sincethe second viewer and the third viewer continue to view the distributionand the viewing time of the second viewer is longer than that of thethird viewer, the second viewer can participate in a predetermineddistribution as a relief user in preference to the third viewer. Thus,even when having failed to participate in a predetermined distributionas a relief user at a predetermined timing, the viewer can participatein the distribution as the relief user, by continuing to view thedistribution, in preference in descending order of the length of viewingtime of the distribution at a timing after the predetermined timing. Asdescribed above, it is possible to reduce the possibility that a viewernot selected as a relief user among the viewers viewing a predetermineddistribution leaves the distribution (stops viewing the distribution).

In S418, when the server device 20 decides a plurality of users asrelief users on the basis of the fifth data, the server device 20determines, for example, whether or not the number of users ascandidates for the relief users exceeds the upper limit number ofavatars that can be included in the second video together with the firstdistributor. Next, for example, if the number of users as candidates forthe relief users exceeds the first upper limit value, the server device20 decides to include the avatar objects of the number users equal to orless than the first upper limit value in the second video together withthe avatar object of the first distributor on the basis of the priorityincluded in the data stored in the storage unit 210 of the server device20. For example, if the number of users as candidates for the reliefusers is equal to or less than the first upper limit value, the serverdevice 20 decides to include the avatar objects of the plurality ofusers in the second video together with the avatar object of the firstdistributor on the basis of the data stored in the storage unit 210 ofthe server device 20. Here, for example, in a case where the number ofusers as candidates for the relief users is equal to or less than thefirst upper limit value and in a case where a new user as a candidatefor the relief user appears, the server device 20 may include the avatarobject of the new user in the second video together with the avatarobject of the first distributor. Note that the case where a new user asa candidate for the relief user appears means that a new user startsviewing the distribution when distribution is performed by the firstdistributor, for example.

In S418, when the server device 20 decides, on the basis of the fifthdata, a plurality of users as relief users, if the number of at leastone other avatar exceeds the first upper limit value and it is decidedthat the avatars of the number of people equal to or less than the firstupper limit value from among at least one other avatar are included inthe second video together with the avatar of the first distributor, theprocessor is caused to function so as to distribute at least any of thefirst video and the second video to the users corresponding to theavatars that are not included in the second video together with theavatar of the first distributor from among at least one other avatar.

In S418, when the server device 20 decides one user as a relief user onthe basis of the sixth data, the server device 20 decides the user whosetransmission timing of the sixth data is the earliest from among aplurality of viewers, for example. In this case, the sixth data mayinclude data regarding the transmission timing of the data transmittedfrom the viewer terminal 12.

In S420, the server device 20 starts collaborative distribution by thefirst distributor and the one or plurality of users decided in S418. Ina case where the collaborative distribution is related to a jointperformance of avatars, when the processing of S420 is executed, forexample, the avatar of the first distributor and the avatar of thesecond distributor are displayed in the first video instead of only theavatar of the first distributor being displayed in the first video.Then, the terminal 10 receives data regarding the execution of thecollaborative distribution of S420 from the server device 20, andperforms display control of including, in the first video, the avataroperated by the second distributor in addition to the avatar operated bythe first distributor on the basis of the data. If the collaborativedistribution is related to the distribution of the game, after theprocessing of S420 is executed, the operation contents in the firstdistributor terminal 11A and the second distributor terminal 11B aretransmitted to the web server system 20B. The first distributor, thesecond distributor, and each viewer can operate their own terminal 10 tostart a browser, and can view the game via the game screen (Web View).Of the server devices 20, for example, the web server system 20Bincludes a server device (e.g., game server device 20B1) that integratesgame operation information of the user participating in the game. Theserver device integrates the operation information for operating eachterminal 10 and transmits the result of the calculation to the hostdistributor (first distributor). The calculation is performed on thegame screen (Web View) of the terminal 10 of the host distributor (firstdistributor), and the result is transmitted to the server device 20(e.g., web server system 20B), and subsequently transmitted to eachterminal 10. Each of the terminals 10 includes the first distributorterminal 11A and terminals operated by the distributor (e.g., seconddistributor terminal 11B) performing collaborative distribution with thefirst distributor and the game viewer. Voice data aretransmitted/received between the collaboration server device 20A4 andthe first distributor terminal 11A and/or the second distributorterminal 11B.

When the collaborative distribution is started in S420, for example, theparameter of the avatar of the first distributor is changed, and theparameter of at least one other avatar to be included in the secondvideo together with the avatar of the first distributor is changed.

Alternatively, in S420, on the basis of the lapse of the first length oftime after the collaborative distribution is started, the avatar to beincluded in the second video together with the avatar of the firstdistributor is changed. This enables the viewer to recognize that theavatar to be included in the second video together with the avatar ofthe first distributor is changed over time. Therefore, by continuing toview the distribution of the first distributor, the viewer can have asense of anticipation to participate in the distribution of the firstdistributor as a relief user and perform collaborative distributiontogether with the first distributor in the future. This can motivate theviewer to continue viewing the distribution of the first distributor.

Thus, by performing display control of including at least one otheravatar in the second video together with the avatar of the firstdistributor, the first distributor and the user corresponding to atleast one other avatar can jointly perform distribution.

Next, in S422, the server device 20 determines whether or not thecollaborative distribution by the first distributor and the seconddistributor has been ended. If the server device 20 determines in S422that the collaborative distribution by the first distributor and thesecond distributor has been ended (YES in S422), the processing in S414is executed. On the other hand, if the server device 20 determines inS422 that the collaborative distribution by the first distributor andthe second distributor has not been ended (NO in S422), the processingin S422 is repeated. The condition for ending the collaborationdistributor in S422 is, for example, either a case where the conditionsin the game played by the collaborative distribution are satisfied or acase where a predetermined length of time has elapsed after the start ofthe collaborative distribution. Here, the above-mentioned “conditions inthe game” are, for example, conditions such as knocking down a characterdifferent from the character to be operated in the stage prepared in thegame, acquiring a predetermined item in the stage, moving the characterto be operated in the stage to a predetermined position, or that theparameter of the character to be operated in the stage is equal to orgreater than a predetermined value or less than the predetermined value.The knocking down a character different from the character to beoperated in the stage prepared in the game, acquiring a predetermineditem in the stage, and moving the character to be operated in the stageto a predetermined position can correspond to clearing the stage. It cancorrespond to the death of the character to be operated that theparameter of the character to be operated in the stage is equal to orgreater than a predetermined value or less than the predetermined value.The above-mentioned “predetermined length of time” is decided inaccordance with the familiarity of the plurality of distributors whodistribute by the collaborative distribution.

The familiarity is decided, for example, on the basis of at least any ofthe number of actual collaborations between the first distributor andthe second distributor, the period during which the first distributorfollows the second distributor, the period during which the seconddistributor follows the first distributor, the number of comments madebetween the first distributor and the second distributor, and the numberof direct messages (DM) made between the first distributor and thesecond distributor.

Here, it is assumed that the more the number of actual collaborationsbetween the first distributor and the second distributor is, the higherthe familiarity is set and the longer the predetermined length of timeis set. It is assumed that the longer the period during which the firstdistributor follows the second distributor is, the higher thefamiliarity is set and the longer the predetermined length of time isset. It is assumed that the longer the period during which the seconddistributor follows the first distributor is, the higher the familiarityis set and the longer the predetermined length of time is set. It isassumed that the more the number of comments made between the firstdistributor and the second distributor is, the higher the familiarity isset and the longer the predetermined length of time is set. It isassumed that the more the number of direct messages (DM) made betweenthe first distributor and the second distributor is, the higher thefamiliarity is set and the longer the predetermined length of time isset.

In the above description, an example of sequentially executing S402 toS412 described in FIG. 7A has been described, but the present inventionis not limited thereto. For example, a part of the processing in S402 toS412 described in FIG. 7A may be omitted. The processing of S414 to S422can be performed by one or a plurality of components constituting theserver device 20 within a range where the processing of S414 to S422 canbe executed.

The first video and the second video may be displayed in parallel,superimposed, switched, or combined on the screen of the terminal 10.Display control may be performed to include at least one other avatar inthe first video and/or the second video together with the avatar of thefirst distributor.

An example of performing display control of extracting at least oneother avatar and including at least one other avatar in the second videotogether with the avatar of the first distributor has been described.However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and displaycontrol of extracting at least one other avatar and including at leastone other avatar in the first video together with the avatar of thefirst distributor may be performed.

In the above description, an example in which the first distributorindependently performs distribution has been described in S412, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto. In S412, the first distributorterminal 11A may transmit the second video (game screen) to thedistribution server device 20A1 of the distribution server system 20A.In this case, the distribution server device 20A1 can distribute thesecond video received from the first distributor terminal 11A to eachviewer terminal 12 executing the video viewing application.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, by beingexecuted by at least one processor, a processor is caused to function soas to distribute the first video including motion data regarding themotion of the first distributor or an animation of the avatar of thefirst distributor generated on the basis of the motion data and thesecond video regarding the game generated on the basis of the operationdata regarding the operation of the first distributor to at least oneviewer terminal 12 of the viewer via the communication line, determinewhether or not the fourth data has been transmitted from the firstdistributor, and, if determining that the fourth data has beentransmitted from the first distributor, perform display control ofextracting at least one other avatar on the basis of at least any of thefifth data regarding at least one user in a game executed in the past byat least one user different from the first distributor and the sixthdata regarding data transmitted from the viewer terminal 12 of at leastone viewer, and including at least one other avatar in the second videotogether with the avatar of the first distributor. Therefore, it ispossible to increase the expandability of the distribution mode morethan ever.

(Various Aspects)

A computer program according to the first aspect can be “a computerprogram causing, by being executed by at least one processor, theprocessor to function so as to: distribute a first video and a secondvideo toward a viewer terminal of at least one viewer via acommunication line, the first video including either motion dataregarding a motion of a first distributor or an animation of an avatarof the first distributor generated on the basis of the motion data, thesecond video regarding a game generated on the basis of operation dataregarding an operation of the first distributor; determine whether ornot first data has been transmitted from the first distributor; extractat least one other avatar on the basis of at least one of second dataand third data in a case where it is determined that the first data hasbeen transmitted from the first distributor, the second data regardingat least one user in a game performed in the past by the at least oneuser different from the first distributor, the third data regarding datatransmitted from a viewer terminal of the at least one viewer; andperform display control of including the at least one other avatar andan avatar of the first distributor in the second video.

In the computer program according to the second aspect, in which in thefirst aspect, “the computer program causes the processor to function sothat the second video is a video regarding a game generated on the basisof operation data regarding an operation of the first distributor usingreceived web page”.

In the computer program according to the third aspect, in which in thefirst aspect or the second aspect, “the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that the first distributor and a usercorresponding to the at least one other avatar perform the game byperforming display control of including the at least one other avatarand an avatar of the first distributor in the second video”.

In the computer program according to the fourth aspect, in which in anyof the first to the third aspects, “the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that the first data is transmitted to anexternal social networking service (SNS)”.

In the computer program according to the fifth aspect, in which in anyof the first to the fourth aspects, “the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that the first data includes data requestingthat the at least one other avatar be included in the second videotogether with an avatar of the first distributor”.

In the computer program according to the sixth aspect, in which in anyof the first to the fifth aspects, “the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that at least one of the second data and thethird data includes data in which the priority of at least one otheravatar to be included in the second video together with an avatar of thefirst distributor is assigned to each of the at least one user”.

In the computer program according to the seventh aspect, in which in thesixth aspect, “a first upper limit value being a number of an upperlimit of an avatar that can be included in the second video togetherwith an avatar of the first distributor is defined and the computerprogram causes the processor to function so as to: determine whether ornot first data has been transmitted from the first distributor;determine whether or not the number of the at least one other avatarexceeds the first upper limit value in a case where it is determinedthat the first data has been transmitted from the first distributor;determine to include an avatar of the number users equal to or less thanthe first upper limit value from among the at least one other avatar inthe second video together with an avatar of the first distributor on thebasis of at least one of the priority included in the second data andthe priority included in the third data in a case where the number ofthe at least one other avatar is equal to or greater than the firstupper limit value; determine to include the at least one other avatar inthe second video together with an avatar of the first distributor on thebasis of at least one of the priority included in the second data andthe priority included in the third data in a case where the number ofthe at least one other avatar is equal to or less than the first upperlimit value”.

In the computer program according to the eighth aspect, in which in theseventh aspect, “the computer program causes the processor to functionso as to distribute at least any of the first video and the second videoto a user corresponding to an avatar that is not included in the secondvideo together with an avatar of the first distributor from among the atleast one other avatar if the number of the at least one other avatarexceeds the first upper limit value and it is decided that an avatar ofthe number of people equal to or less than the first upper limit valuefrom among the at least one other avatar are included in the secondvideo together with an avatar of the first distributor”.

In the computer program according to the ninth aspect, in which in anyof the first to the eighth aspects, “the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that the second data includes at least one ofdata indicating a parameter in a game that the at least one user hasever distributed or viewed in the past and data indicating arelationship between the at least one user and the first distributor”.

In the computer program according to the tenth aspect, in which in theninth aspect, “the computer program causes the processor to function sothat the second data includes at least any of the number of times ofdistribution of a game distributed in the past by the at least one user,the number of times of view of a game viewed in the past by the at leastone user, data indicating the level of the avatar of the at least oneuser, data indicating the ranking of the at least one user, dataindicating the number of times of distribution of the game distributedby the at least one user together with the first distributor in a gamedistributed in the past by the first distributor, data indicating thenumber of times of view of the game distributed in the past by the firstdistributor viewed by the at least one user, data indicating the historyin which at least one user has belonged to an event in a game executedin the past by the first distributor, data indicating whether or not atleast one user follows the first distributor, data indicating the totalnumber of messages transmitted between at least one user and the firstdistributor, and data indicating the amount of gifts and the content ofgifts given to the first distributor by at least one user in a gamedistributed in the past by the first distributor”.

In the computer program according to the eleventh aspect, in which inthe tenth aspects, “the computer program causes the processor tofunction so as to perform, on the basis of the second data, displaycontrol of including, in the second video together with an avatar of thefirst distributor, among avatars of the at least one user, an avatar ofa user having the largest number of times of distribution of a gamedistributed in the past, an avatar of a user having the largest numberof times of view of a game viewed in the past, an avatar of the highestlevel, an avatar of a user with the highest ranking, an avatar of a userhaving the largest number of times of distribution of, together with thefirst distributor, a game distributed in the past by the firstdistributor, an avatar of a user having the largest number of times ofview of a game executed in the past by the first distributor, an avatarof a user having the largest number of belonging to events in a gameexecuted in the past by the first distributor, an avatar of a userhaving the largest total number of messages transmitted to the firstdistributor and received from the first distributor, an avatar of a userhaving given the largest number of gifts to the first distributor, or anavatar of a user decided to have the highest accumulation of the valuesof gifts given to the first distributor”.

In the computer program according to the twelfth aspect, in which in theeleventh aspect, “the computer program causes the processor to functionso that the accumulation of the values of the gifts given to the firstdistributor is decided on the basis of the total sum of prices of giftsgiven to the first distributor or the total sum of consumption pointsconsumed in the game”.

In the computer program according to the thirteenth aspect, in which inany of the first to the ninth aspects, “the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that the third data includes data regarding atransmission timing of data transmitted from a viewer terminal of the atleast one viewer”.

In the computer program according to the fourteenth aspect, in which inthe thirteenth aspect, “the computer program causes the processor tofunction so as to perform display control of including an avatar of auser whose transmission timing is the earliest among the at least oneuser and an avatar of the first distributor in the second video”.

In the computer program according to the fifteenth aspect, in which inany of the first to the fourteenth aspects, “the computer program causesthe processor to function so that an avatar to be included in the secondvideo together with an avatar of the first distributor is changed on thebasis of a change of a parameter of an avatar of the first distributorafter the display control, on the basis of a change of a parameter ofthe at least one other avatar to be included in the second videotogether with an avatar of the first distributor after the displaycontrol, or on the basis of the lapse of first length of time after thedisplay control.

A computer program according to the sixteenth aspect can be “a computerprogram causing, by being executed by at least one processor, theprocessor to function so as to: receive a first video and a second videotoward a viewer terminal of at least one viewer via a communicationline, the first video including either motion data regarding a motion ofa first distributor or an animation of an avatar of the firstdistributor generated on the basis of the motion data, the second videoregarding a game generated on the basis of operation data regarding anoperation of the first distributor; determine whether or not first datahas been transmitted from the first distributor; extract at least oneother avatar on the basis of at least one of second data and third datain a case where it is determined that the first data has beentransmitted from the first distributor, the second data regarding atleast one user in a game performed in the past by the at least one userdifferent from the first distributor, the third data regarding datatransmitted from a viewer terminal of the at least one viewer; andreceive a second video including the at least one other avatar and anavatar of the first distributor in a case where a display control toinclude the at least one other avatar and an avatar of the firstdistributor in the second video is performed”.

In the computer program according to the seventeenth aspect, in which inany of the first to the sixteenth aspects, “the communication lineincludes the Internet”.

In the computer program according to the eighteenth aspect, in which inany of the first to the seventeenth aspects, “the at least one processorincludes a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, and/or agraphics processing unit (GPU)”.

In the computer program according to the nineteenth aspect, in which inany of the first to the eighteenth aspects, “the at least one processoris mounted on a smartphone, a tablet, a mobile phone, and/or a personalcomputer”.

A method according to the twentieth aspect can be “a method executed byat least one processor executing computer-readable instructions, themethod including steps of, by executing the instructions with theprocessor, distributing a first video and a second video toward a viewerterminal of at least one viewer via a communication line, the firstvideo including either motion data regarding a motion of a firstdistributor or an animation of an avatar of the first distributorgenerated on the basis of the motion data, the second video regarding agame generated on the basis of operation data regarding an operation ofthe first distributor, determining whether or not first data has beentransmitted from the first distributor, extracting at least one otheravatar on the basis of at least one of second data and third data in acase where it is determined that the first data has been transmittedfrom the first distributor, the second data regarding at least one userin a game performed in the past by the at least one user different fromthe first distributor, the third data regarding data transmitted from aviewer terminal of the at least one viewer, and performing displaycontrol of including the at least one other avatar and an avatar of thefirst distributor in the second video”.

A method according to the twenty-first aspect can be “a method executedby at least one processor executing computer-readable instructions, themethod including steps of, by executing the instructions with theprocessor, receiving a first video and a second video toward a viewerterminal of at least one viewer via a communication line, the firstvideo including either motion data regarding a motion of a firstdistributor or an animation of an avatar of the first distributorgenerated on the basis of the motion data, the second video regarding agame generated on the basis of operation data regarding an operation ofthe first distributor; determining whether or not first data has beentransmitted from the first distributor, extracting at least one otheravatar on the basis of at least one of second data and third data in acase where it is determined that the first data has been transmittedfrom the first distributor, the second data regarding at least one userin a game performed in the past by the at least one user different fromthe first distributor, the third data regarding data transmitted from aviewer terminal of the at least one viewer, and receiving a second videoincluding the at least one other avatar and an avatar of the firstdistributor in a case where a display control to include the at leastone other avatar and an avatar of the first distributor in the secondvideo is performed”.

In the method according to the twenty-second aspect, in which in thetwentieth aspect or the twenty-first aspect, “the communication lineincludes the Internet”.

In the method according to the twenty-third aspect, in which in any ofthe twentieth to twenty-second aspects, “the at least one processorincludes a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, and/or agraphics processing unit (GPU)”.

A server device according to the twenty-fourth aspect can be “a serverdevice comprising at least one processor, wherein the processor isconfigured to: distribute a first video and a second video toward aviewer terminal of at least one viewer via a communication line, thefirst video including either motion data regarding a motion of a firstdistributor or an animation of an avatar of the first distributorgenerated on the basis of the motion data, the second video regarding agame generated on the basis of operation data regarding an operation ofthe first distributor; determine whether or not first data has beentransmitted from the first distributor; extract at least one otheravatar on the basis of at least one of second data and third data in acase where it is determined that the first data has been transmittedfrom the first distributor, the second data regarding at least one userin a game performed in the past by the at least one user different fromthe first distributor, the third data regarding data transmitted from aviewer terminal of the at least one viewer; and perform display controlof including the at least one other avatar and an avatar of the firstdistributor in the second video”.

A server device according to the twenty-fifth aspect can be “a serverdevice comprising at least one processor, wherein the processor isconfigured to: distribute a first video and a second video toward aviewer terminal of at least one viewer via a communication line, thefirst video including either motion data regarding a motion of a firstdistributor or an animation of an avatar of the first distributorgenerated on the basis of the motion data, the second video regarding agame generated on the basis of operation data regarding an operation ofthe first distributor, and wherein the computer program causes theprocessor to function so that a distributor terminal of the firstdistributor is configured to: determine whether or not first data hasbeen transmitted from the first distributor; extract at least one otheravatar on the basis of at least one of second data and third data in acase where it is determined that the first data has been transmittedfrom the first distributor, the second data regarding at least one userin a game performed in the past by the at least one user different fromthe first distributor, the third data regarding data transmitted from aviewer terminal of the at least one viewer; and perform display controlof including the at least one other avatar and an avatar of the firstdistributor in the second video”.

In the server device according to the twenty-sixth aspect, in which inthe twenty-fourth aspect or the twenty-fifth aspect, “the communicationline includes the Internet”.

In the server device according to the twenty-seventh aspect, in which inany of the twenty-fourth to the twenty-sixth aspects, “the at least oneprocessor includes a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor,and/or a graphics processing unit (GPU)”.

FIG. 8 illustrates a generalized example of a suitable computingenvironment 1400 in which described embodiments, techniques, andtechnologies, including transmitting and using tokens to render video ina computing environment, can be implemented. For example, the computingenvironment 1400 can implement any of the terminal devices (ordistributors or viewers) or the distribution server system, etc., asdescribed herein.

The computing environment 1400 is not intended to suggest any limitationas to scope of use or functionality of the technology, as the technologymay be implemented in diverse general-purpose or special-purposecomputing environments. For example, the disclosed technology may beimplemented with other computer system configurations, includinghand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, and the like. The disclosed technology may also be practicedin distributed computing environments where tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may belocated in both local and remote memory storage devices.

With reference to FIG. 8 , the computing environment 1400 includes atleast one central processing unit 1410 and memory 1420. In FIG. 8 , thismost basic configuration 1430 is included within a dashed line. Thecentral processing unit 1410 executes computer-executable instructionsand may be a real or a virtual processor. In a multi-processing system,multiple processing units execute computer-executable instructions toincrease processing power and as such, multiple processors can berunning simultaneously. The memory 1420 may be volatile memory (e.g.,registers, cache, RAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM, EEPROM, flashmemory, etc.), or some combination of the two. The memory 1420 storessoftware 1480, images, and video that can, for example, implement thetechnologies described herein. A computing environment may haveadditional features. For example, the computing environment 1400includes storage 1440, one or more input devices 1450, one or moreoutput devices 1460, and one or more communication connections 1470. Aninterconnection mechanism (not shown) such as a bus, a controller, or anetwork, interconnects the components of the computing environment 1400.Typically, operating system software (not shown) provides an operatingenvironment for other software executing in the computing environment1400, and coordinates activities of the components of the computingenvironment 1400.

The storage 1440 may be removable or non-removable, and includesmagnetic disks, magnetic tapes or cassettes, CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, DVDs, orany other medium which can be used to store information (data) and thatcan be accessed within the computing environment 1400. The storage 1440stores instructions for the software 1480, plugin data, and messages,which can be used to implement technologies described herein.

The input device(s) 1450 may be a touch input device, such as akeyboard, keypad, mouse, touch screen display, pen, or trackball, avoice input device, a scanning device, or another device, that providesinput to the computing environment 1400. For audio, the input device(s)1450 may be a sound card or similar device that accepts audio input inanalog or digital form, or a CD-ROM reader that provides audio samplesto the computing environment 1400. The output device(s) 1460 may be adisplay, printer, speaker, CD-writer, or another device that providesoutput from the computing environment 1400.

The communication connection(s) 1470 enable communication over acommunication medium (e.g., a connecting network) to another computingentity. The communication medium conveys information (data) such ascomputer-executable instructions, compressed graphics information(compressed graphics data), video, or other data in a modulated datasignal. The communication connection(s) 1470 are not limited to wiredconnections (e.g., megabit or gigabit Ethernet, Infiniband, FibreChannel over electrical or fiber optic connections) but also includewireless technologies (e.g., RF connections via Bluetooth, WiFi (IEEE802.11a/b/n), WiMax, cellular, satellite, laser, infrared) and othersuitable communication connections for providing a network connectionfor the disclosed terminals and servers. In a virtual host environment,the communication(s) connection(s)s can be a virtualized networkconnection provided by the virtual host.

Some embodiments of the disclosed methods can be performed usingcomputer-executable instructions implementing all or a portion of thedisclosed technology in a computing cloud 1490. For example, terminalscan execute in the computing environment while servers can be located inthe computing cloud 1490.

Computer-readable media are any available media that can be accessedwithin a computing environment 1400. By way of example, and notlimitation, with the computing environment 1400, computer-readable mediainclude memory 1420 and/or storage 1440. As should be readilyunderstood, the term computer-readable storage media includes the mediafor data storage such as memory 1420 and storage 1440, and nottransmission media such as modulated data signals.

5. Variations

In the various embodiments described above, a case where in order forthe distributor terminal 11 to generate a video (second video) regardinga game, an HTML (HTML5 in particular) document in which a game programis incorporated is received from the web server system 20B has beendescribed. However, instead of the configuration of receiving, from theweb server system 20B, an HTML document in which a game program isincorporated from the web server system 20B, the distributor terminal 11can also generate the second video including a screen regarding the gameby executing the installed video distribution application to receivenecessary information (necessary data) from a data server device notillustrated (or a certain server device not illustrated included in thedistribution server system 20A).

In the various embodiments described above, the distributor terminal 11may be a smartphone or the like used by a general user or may be adedicated terminal placed in a studio or the like. In this case, atleast one server device from among a distribution server device 20 a, aDB server device 20 b, and a game API server device 20 c (furthermore, aweb server system 20B) included in the distribution server system 20Amay be provided together with the dedicated terminal in the studio orthe like.

In the various embodiments described above, a case in which, on thebasis of motion data regarding the motion of a distributor and voicedata regarding the voice of the distributor, the distributor terminal 11generates a video including an animation including an avatar object ofthis distributor, and transmits this video to the server device 20 hasbeen described. However, the distributor terminal 11 may transmit themotion data regarding the motion of the distributor and the voice dataregarding the voice of the distributor to the server device 20, and theserver device 20 may generate a video on the basis of this motion dataand the voice data and distribute the video to each viewer terminal 12.This can reduce the amount of information (data) transmitted from thedistributor terminal 11 to the server device 20.

The distributor terminal 11 may transmit the motion data regarding themotion of the distributor and the voice data regarding the voice of thedistributor to a separately provided server device, this separate serverdevice may generate a video on the basis of the motion data and thevoice data and return it to the distributor terminal 11, and thedistributor terminal 11 may transmit the received video to the serverdevice 20. This can reduce the amount of information (data) transmittedfrom the distributor terminal 11 to the separately provided serverdevice 20.

The distributor terminal 11 may transmit the motion data regarding themotion of the distributor and the voice data regarding the voice of thedistributor to each viewer terminal 12 via the server device 20 or theseparately provided server device, and each viewer terminal 12 maygenerate (render) and display a video on the basis of the receivedmotion data and voice data. This can reduce the amount of information(data) transmitted from the server device 20 or the separately providedserver device to each viewer terminal 12.

In any of the above cases, the generation of the video on the basis ofthe motion data and the voice data transmitted by the distributorterminal 11 may be shared by at least two devices from among the serverdevice 20, the separate server device, and each viewer terminal 12. Ineither case, the device responsible for generation of the video canreceive and store information (data) such as an image regarding theavatar object to be operated from, for example, the server device 20 orthe like.

In the various embodiments described above, the motion of each of theterminals 10 described above can be executed similarly by the studiounit 30 having a similar configuration to that of the terminal 10. Inthis case, the studio unit 30A illustrated in FIG. 1 can have a similarfunction to that of the terminal 10 for distributing a video. Similarly,the studio unit 30B illustrated in FIG. 1 can have a similar function tothat of the terminal 10 for viewing a video. Furthermore, the motion ofeach of the server devices 20 described above can be executed also bythe studio unit 30 having the similar configuration to that of theserver device 20.

The various embodiments described above can be used in combination witheach other as long as they do not cause inconsistencies orinconveniences.

In general, if a game program is installed in the terminal 10, or if agame program is incorporated in a video distribution applicationinstalled in the terminal 10, execution of a new game requires theterminal 10 to have a new game program installed or have a videodistribution application in which the new game program is incorporatedinstalled. In this case, the game program creator needs to prepare agame program corresponding to each of the plurality of OS s, andtherefore, there is a problem that the man-hour for the production ofthe game program increases. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of theuser, it is necessary to download a new game program and/or update anexisting game program in order to obtain a new game, there is a problemthat communication load, communication cost, time, and labor arerequired.

In S324, if at least one current parameter of the avatar of the firstdistributor has been changed on the basis of the second data, or if theavatar of the first distributor and the avatar of a user other than thefirst distributor are displayed in the second video on the basis of thesecond data, the parameter regarding the avatar of the user (helper) canbe changed. The change of the parameter means, for example, a change toa parameter more advantageous for the progress of the game than thecurrent parameter. Instead of changing the parameter regarding theavatar of the user, a token (gift) can be given to the user. Thus, thereward for being selected in S322 and S324 can be given to the user. Thedegree of change of the parameter and the content of the token (gift)are decided in accordance with the degree of contribution of the user(helper). For example, the higher the degree of contribution of the user(helper) is, the greater the degree of change of the parameter describedabove can become so as to be more advantageous to the progress of thegame. For example, the higher the degree of contribution of the user(helper) is, the larger the number of tokens (gifts), the higher thevalue of tokens (gifts), the larger the number of types of tokens(gifts), and/or the higher the level of tokens (gifts) can be.

An example of executing the processing of S322 and thereafter executingthe processing of S324 in a case of YES in S318 has been described.However, in a case of YES in S318 and before executing the processing ofS322, or after executing the processing of S322 and before executing theprocessing of S324, the server device 20 may count the number of viewersof the game independently distributed by the first distributor. Then,the server device 20 may determine whether or not the number of viewersof the game independently distributed by the first distributor is equalto or greater than a predetermined number of viewers, and only in a casewhere the number of viewers falls below the predetermined number ofviewers, execute the subsequent processing (S322 or S324).Alternatively, the server device 20 may determine whether or not thenumber of viewers of the game independently distributed by the firstdistributor has become smaller than the number of viewers at the time ofcollaborative distribution by a predetermined number or more, and onlyin a case where the number of viewers has become smaller than the numberof viewers by the predetermined number or more, execute the subsequentprocessing (S322 or S324). The number of viewers at the time ofcollaborative distribution is, for example, any of the maximum number ofviewers, the minimum number of viewers, and the average number ofviewers at the time of collaborative distribution.

In the above description, an example in which the predeterminedprocessing described in S324 is performed on the basis of the seconddata in the case where the first distributor independently distributesafter the second distributor distributing together with the firstdistributor stops and leaves the distribution in S316 has beendescribed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Forexample, the processing of S322 and S324 may be performed in the casewhere there are a plurality of distributors (guests) distributingtogether with the first distributor in S316, and after at least oneguest of the plurality of guests stops and leaves the distribution, boththe first distributor and the remaining guest are distributing the game.

In the above description, an example of sequentially executing S302 toS318 described in FIG. 6A has been described. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this, and at least any of processing of S304to S312 may be omitted.

The technique of the present disclosure is applicable to, for example, arole-playing game, a social simulation game, a shooter game, an actiongame, a card game, Mahjong, Go, Othello, a puzzle game, a quiz game, asports game, and/or a board game. Here, the user (helper) regarding thesecond data extracted in S324 can assist the first distributor when thefirst distributor plays the game, as follows, for example. For example,if the first distributor plays a role-playing game, a social simulationgame, and/or a shooter game, the user gives the first distributor anexample of how to proceed with the game. For example, in a case wherethe first distributor plays an action game in a situation where thefirst distributor fights with a predetermined character in the actiongame, the user participates in the fight so as to support the firstdistributor. For example, in a case where the first distributor plays acard game, the first distributor can use the special skill that the userhas. For example, in a case where the first distributor plays a sportsgame in a situation where the first distributor plays a match with apredetermined opponent (team) in the sports game, the user participatesin the match so as to support the first distributor. For example, if thefirst distributor plays a role-playing game, a social simulation game, ashooter game, an action game, a card game, Mahjong, Go, Othello, apuzzle game, a quiz game, a sports game, and/or a board game, the userprovides information (data) such as a clue for advantageously developingthe game for the first distributor.

In the second example, by executing the installed game application andaccessing the distribution server system 20A also functioning as a gameserver device, the first distributor terminal 11A of the firstdistributor can also distribute the screen of the game being executed tothe terminal 10 of each viewer via the distribution server system 20A.Also in these first and second examples, the first distributor terminal11A of the first distributor can generate the second video by using theviewing parameter received from the distribution server system 20Asimilarly to the various embodiments described above.

Furthermore, in the third example, the first distributor terminal 11A ofthe first distributor in the first example or the second example cantransmit the operation data of the first distributor to the web serversystem 20B or the distribution server system 20A without generating agame screen. In this case, the web server system 20B or the distributionserver system 20A can generate a game screen using the operation data,and the distribution server system 20A can distribute the second videoincluding the generated game screen to the terminal 10 of each viewer.In this third example, when the web server system 20B generates a gamescreen, the web server system 20B can use the viewing parameter receivedfrom the distribution server system 20A. When the distribution serversystem 20A generates a game screen, the distribution server system 20Acan use a viewing parameter managed by itself.

Thus, the technique of the present disclosure can provide a computerprogram, a method, and a server device that reduce the possibility ofspoiling the amusement of the game. Also, the technique of the presentdisclosure can provide a computer program, a method, and a server devicethat improve the amusement by extending the mode of game distributionmore than ever.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of thedisclosed subject matter may be applied, it should be recognized thatthe illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples and should notbe taken as limiting the scope of the scope of the claims to thosepreferred examples. Rather, the scope of the claimed subject matter isdefined by the following claims. We therefore claim as our invention allthat comes within the scope of these claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Computer-readable storage media storingcomputer-readable instructions, which when executed by a computer havingat least one processor, cause the computer to: distribute a first videoand a second video toward a viewer terminal of at least one viewer viathe Internet, the first video including either video generated withmotion data regarding a motion of a first distributor or an animation ofan avatar of the first distributor generated on the basis of the motiondata, the second video regarding a computer-implemented game generatedon the basis of operation data regarding an operation of the firstdistributor using a received web page; store first data in acomputer-readable medium regarding one or more users having performedcollaborative distribution with the first distributor prior to executionof the computer-implemented game; determine whether or not a firstcondition is satisfied after the first distributor and the one or moreusers perform the collaborative distribution; extract second dataregarding at least any user of the one or more users on the basis of thefirst data in a case where the first condition is satisfied; and change,during or after execution of the computer-implemented game, at least onecurrent parameter of an avatar of the first distributor on the basis ofthe second data or display in the second video, wherein the first datais data regarding at least any of the following: one or more users whojointly distributed a computer-implemented game with the firstdistributor, and one or more users who jointly distributed with thefirst distributor using an avatar of the first distributor and his/herown avatar, and wherein the second data includes at least one of thefollowing: data indicating a parameter in a computer-implemented gamedistributed or viewed by the one or more users in the past or dataindicating a relationship between the one or more users and the firstdistributor.
 2. The computer-readable storage media according to claim1, wherein in a case where the current parameter is changed to a firstparameter, the first parameter is displayed in the second video,information indicating that the current parameter has been changed tothe first parameter is displayed in the second video, or an avatarhaving the first parameter is displayed in the second video.
 3. Thecomputer-readable storage media according to claim 1, wherein in a casewhere when displaying on the basis of the second data, in the secondvideo, avatars comprising an avatar of the first distributor and anavatar of at least any user of the one or more users, at least any userof the one or more users is one of the following: a user having thelargest number of times for performing the collaborative distributionwith the first distributor, a user having the longest accumulated timefor performing the collaborative distribution with the firstdistributor, a user having the largest number of times for viewingdistribution by the first distributor, a user having the longestaccumulated time for viewing distribution by the first distributor, or auser having the highest level in the computer-implemented game.
 4. Thecomputer-readable storage media according to claim 1, wherein the firstcondition is a condition indicating that third data has been transmittedfrom either a distributor terminal of the first distributor or adistributor terminal of a distributor other than the first distributor,or is a condition indicating that first length of time has elapsed afterthe first distributor and the one or more users start the collaborativedistribution.
 5. The computer-readable storage media according to claim4, wherein the third data includes data requesting that an avatar of atleast any user of the one or more users is displayed with an avatar ofthe first distributor in the second video.
 6. The computer-readablestorage media according to claim 1, wherein in a case where at least onecurrent parameter of an avatar of the first distributor is changed onthe basis of the second data or in a case where an avatar of the firstdistributor and an avatar of at least any user of the one or more usersare displayed in the second video on the basis of the second data, aparameter regarding an avatar of the one or more users is changed. 7.The computer-readable storage media according to claim 1, wherein in acase where the current parameter is changed to a first parameter on thebasis of the second data, the first parameter is a parameter moreadvantageous for the progress of the computer-implemented game than thecurrent parameter in the computer-implemented game.
 8. Thecomputer-readable storage media according to claim 1, wherein theinstructions further cause the computer to: determine whether or notfourth data has been transmitted from the first distributor; extract atleast one other avatar on the basis of at least one of fifth data andsixth data in a case where it is determined that the fourth data hasbeen transmitted from the first distributor, the fifth data regardingone or more users in a computer-implemented game performed in the pastby the one or more users different from the first distributor, the sixthdata regarding data transmitted from a viewer terminal of the at leastone viewer; and perform display control of including the at least oneother avatar and an avatar of the first distributor in the second video.9. A computer-implemented method for automatically generating customizedvideo in an interactive network application, the method comprising: withat least one processor: distributing a first video and a second videotoward a viewer terminal of at least one viewer via the Internet, thefirst video including either video generated with motion data regardinga motion of a first distributor or an animation of an avatar of thefirst distributor generated on the basis of the motion data, the secondvideo regarding a computer-implemented game generated on the basis ofoperation data regarding an operation of the first distributor using areceived web page; storing first data regarding one or more users havingperformed collaborative distribution with the first distributor prior toexecution of the computer-implemented game; determining whether or not afirst condition is satisfied after the first distributor and the one ormore users perform the collaborative distribution; extracting seconddata regarding at least any user of the one or more users on the basisof the first data in a case where the first condition is satisfied; andchanging, during or after execution of the computer-implemented game, atleast one current parameter of an avatar of the first distributor on thebasis of the second data or displaying in the second video, wherein thefirst data is data regarding at least any of the following: one or moreusers who jointly distributed a computer-implemented game with the firstdistributor, and one or more users who jointly distributed with thefirst distributor using an avatar of the first distributor and his/herown avatar, and wherein the second data includes data indicating aparameter in a computer-implemented game distributed or viewed by theone or more users in the past.
 10. The computer-implemented methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the first data is data regarding at leastany of the following: one or more users who jointly distributed acomputer-implemented game with the first distributor, and one or moreusers who jointly distributed with the first distributor using an avatarof the first distributor and his/her own avatar.
 11. Thecomputer-implemented method according to claim 9, wherein in a casewhere when displaying on the basis of the second data, in the secondvideo, avatars comprising an avatar of the first distributor and anavatar of at least any user of the one or more users, at least any userof the one or more users is one of the following: a user having thelargest number of times for performing the collaborative distributionwith the first distributor, a user having the longest accumulated timefor performing the collaborative distribution with the firstdistributor, a user having the largest number of times for viewingdistribution by the first distributor, a user having the longestaccumulated time for viewing distribution by the first distributor, or auser having the highest level in the computer-implemented game.
 12. Thecomputer-implemented method according to claim 9, wherein the firstcondition is a condition indicating that third data has been transmittedfrom either a distributor terminal of the first distributor or adistributor terminal of a distributor other than the first distributor,or is a condition indicating that first length of time has elapsed afterthe first distributor and the one or more users start the collaborativedistribution.
 13. The computer-implemented method according to claim 12,wherein the third data includes data requesting that an avatar of atleast any user of the one or more users is displayed with an avatar ofthe first distributor in the second video.
 14. The computer-implementedmethod according to claim 9, wherein in a case where at least onecurrent parameter of an avatar of the first distributor is changed onthe basis of the second data or in a case where an avatar of the firstdistributor and an avatar of at least any user of the one or more usersare displayed in the second video on the basis of the second data, aparameter regarding an avatar of the one or more users is changed. 15.The computer-implemented method according to claim 9, wherein in a casewhere the current parameter is changed to a first parameter on the basisof the second data, the first parameter is a parameter more advantageousfor the progress of the computer-implemented game than the currentparameter in the computer-implemented game.
 16. The computer-implementedmethod according to claim 9, further comprising: determining whether ornot fourth data has been transmitted from the first distributor;extracting at least one other avatar on the basis of at least one offifth data and sixth data in a case where it is determined that thefourth data has been transmitted from the first distributor, the fifthdata regarding one or more users in a computer-implemented gameperformed in the past by the one or more users different from the firstdistributor, the sixth data regarding data transmitted from a viewerterminal of the at least one viewer; and performing display control ofincluding the at least one other avatar and an avatar of the firstdistributor in the second video.
 17. A terminal device, comprising: atleast one processor coupled to the Internet, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to: receive a first video and a second videofrom a distributor terminal of a first distributor via the Internet, thefirst video including either motion data regarding a motion of the firstdistributor, the motion data being produced with a camera, or ananimation of an avatar of the first distributor generated on the basisof the motion data, the second video regarding a computer-implementedgame generated on the basis of operation data regarding an operation ofthe first distributor using a received web page, wherein first dataregarding one or more users having performed collaborative distributionwith the first distributor prior to execution of thecomputer-implemented game is stored, wherein it is determined whether ornot a first condition is satisfied after the first distributor and theone or more users perform the collaborative distribution, wherein seconddata regarding at least any user of the one or more users on the basisof the first data is extracted in a case where the first condition issatisfied, wherein at least one current parameter of an avatar of thefirst distributor is changed, on the basis of the second data, andwherein the at least one processor is further configured to: display thesecond video including an avatar of the first distributor and an avatarof the at least any user, wherein the first data is data regarding atleast any of the following: one or more users who jointly distributed acomputer-implemented game with the first distributor, and one or moreusers who jointly distributed with the first distributor using an avatarof the first distributor and his/her own avatar, and wherein the seconddata includes data indicating a relationship between the one or moreusers and the first distributor.
 18. A system, comprising: the terminaldevice of claim 17; and a server device coupled to the distributorterminal via the Internet, wherein the server is configured to transmitthe second video to the terminal device.